How do you play Xiangqi for beginners?

Learn how each of the seven piece types moves, keep your General safe inside the palace, develop your Chariots and Cannons onto open files, and aim to checkmate the opposing General. XiangqiPlay's interactive tutorial demonstrates every rule right on the board.

What is the goal of Xiangqi?

The goal is to checkmate the opposing General — to attack it so that it cannot escape, block the attack, or capture the attacker. Unlike Western chess, being stalemated (having no legal move) is also a loss.

How is Xiangqi different from Western chess?

Xiangqi is played on the intersections of a 9×10 grid rather than on squares, features a river and palaces, and has unique pieces like the Cannon (which jumps to capture) and the Elephant. The Generals also cannot face each other on an open file.

How does the Cannon move in Xiangqi?

The Cannon moves any distance in a straight line like a Chariot, but to capture a piece it must leap over exactly one other piece — friendly or enemy — that acts as a screen.

Learn

How to play Xiangqi

Chinese Chess for complete beginners — learn each piece and how to win, step by step.

車

馬

象

士

將

士

象

馬

車

砲

卒

兵

炮

俥

傌

相

仕

帥

仕

相

傌

俥

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Step 1 of 10

The board & the goal

Xiangqi is played on a 9×10 grid. Pieces sit on the intersections, not the squares. The blank strip across the middle is the river, and each side has a 3×3 palace marked by an X. Your goal is simple: checkmate the enemy General. Red always moves first.