General
One point horizontally or vertically, staying inside the palace.
Xiangqi
One move. A thousand possibilities. Checkmate the opposing general on a 9 × 10 board. Red moves first.
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Advisor
One point diagonally, always inside the palace.
Elephant
Two points diagonally with a clear midpoint. Cannot cross the river.
Chariot
Any distance horizontally or vertically along a clear line.
Cannon
Moves like a chariot. Captures by jumping over exactly one piece.
Horse
One straight point, then one diagonal. Blocked by an adjacent piece in the first direction.
Soldier
One point forward. After crossing the river, may also move sideways. Never backwards.
Read the full guide
Board setup, special rules and winning conditions for Xiangqi.
The two generals may never face each other on an open file. Win by checkmate or by leaving your opponent without a legal move.
A quick guide to Xiangqi
Read the Xiangqi rulesWhat is Xiangqi?
Xiangqi, also called Chinese chess, is played by two people on 9×10 intersections. Each side has 16 pieces with seven roles, including the general and cannon. Red moves first; checkmate or leaving the opponent without a legal move wins.
Is perpetual check allowed in Xiangqi?
No. Under the WXF 2018 rules ChessPlayX applies, the side giving perpetual check must vary. ChessPlayX issues a warning when the repeated position occurs for the third time, and continuing the same cycle to the fourth occurrence loses. If both sides check perpetually, the game is drawn. Perpetual chase is treated the same way.
Is stalemate a draw in Xiangqi?
No. Unlike chess, a player who is not in check but has no legal move loses in Xiangqi. Remember that the two generals may never face each other on an open file, so a move that would expose your general that way is illegal and can leave you without moves.
When is a Xiangqi game drawn?
By agreement, on the fourth occurrence of a repeated position when neither side must vary, or after 50 moves by each side without a capture. Pawn moves do not reset that 50-move count, and threefold repetition alone is not a draw. ChessPlayX counts these automatically under WXF 2018.
How can I play with a friend?
Share one device for a local game, or choose the friend option above to create an online room and send its invitation. Online games need an internet connection. Local games are saved in this browser.
Play Xiangqi on one deviceWhich rules apply here?
WXF 2018 · online move and repetition rules. Read the setup, legal moves, special rules and end conditions before starting. The guide describes the variant used on ChessPlayX, including differences from other versions where relevant.
Read the Xiangqi rulesCan I play against AI?
Choose AI mode to practice at your own pace. Start with a lower difficulty while learning the moves, then increase it when you can spot threats and plan your replies.