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Xiangqi guides

How to play Xiangqi from the first move: the rules, every piece explained, board setup, notation, and the beginner mistakes worth skipping.

67 articles

Guides

How to Play Xiangqi (Chinese Chess): A Complete Beginner's Guide

Learn how to play xiangqi from scratch — the board and river, how every piece moves, how you win, and the simple habits that stop beginners losing early.

Mei LinJun 28, 2026 9m

Guides

How Every Xiangqi Piece Moves: General, Chariot, Cannon, Horse and More

A clear guide to how xiangqi pieces move: General, Advisor, Elephant, Horse, Chariot, Cannon, and Soldier, plus the blocking tricks beginners miss.

Coach Aisha RahmanJun 24, 2026 8m

Guides

Xiangqi Board Setup: Starting Position and the River Explained

Learn the correct Xiangqi (象棋 / Chinese Chess) board setup: the 9×10 grid, the river, the palace, and exactly where every piece starts so you can set up a game with confidence.

Mei LinJun 22, 2026 7m

Guides

5 Checkmate Patterns Every Xiangqi Beginner Should Know

Five essential Xiangqi (象棋 / Chinese Chess) checkmate patterns for beginners, from the Chariot back-rank mate to the deadly flying general finish, with clear explanations of how each one works.

Mr. Tan WeiJun 19, 2026 9m

Guides

How to Read Xiangqi Notation: A Simple Guide for Beginners

Xiangqi (象棋 / Chinese Chess) notation looks cryptic but follows simple rules. Learn how to read files, piece names, and the forward, backward, and sideways move symbols so you can study games with ease.

Daniel OkaforJun 16, 2026 7m

Guides

Xiangqi vs Western Chess: 8 Key Differences Every Player Should Know

Xiangqi vs chess, from someone who plays both: what actually changes when you switch — the river, the palace, the leaping cannon, and the feel of the fight.

FM Elena PetrovaJun 13, 2026 9m

Guides

10 Common Xiangqi Mistakes Beginners Make (and How to Fix Them)

Avoid the 10 most common Xiangqi (象棋 / Chinese Chess) beginner mistakes — from neglecting development to exposing your General — with practical fixes that will instantly raise your level of play.

Coach Aisha RahmanJun 10, 2026 9m

Guides

The Flying General Rule in Xiangqi, Explained with Examples

The flying general rule is one of Xiangqi's most important and misunderstood rules. Learn exactly why the two Generals can never face each other, with clear examples and how to use it to win games.

Mr. Tan WeiJun 7, 2026 7m

Guides

How Xiangqi Titles and Rankings Work in China

Confused by Xiangqi titles and rankings? This guide explains how competitive Chinese Chess is organized in China, what it means to be a grandmaster, and how 象棋 players climb the ladder to the top.

Mei LinFeb 6, 2026 7m

Guides

Cờ Tướng Terms: A Vietnamese–English Xiangqi Glossary

Learn the essential Vietnamese vocabulary of Cờ Tướng, from Xe and Pháo to chiếu tướng and chiếu bí. This handy glossary bridges Vietnamese and English for every Xiangqi player.

GM Lê MinhDec 10, 2025 7m

Guides

Xiangqi for Chess Players: What Transfers and What Doesn't

Coming to Xiangqi from Western chess? Some skills transfer beautifully while others will trip you up. Here's an honest guide to what carries over and what you'll need to relearn.

FM Elena PetrovaDec 2, 2025 9m

Guides

How to Improve at Xiangqi Fast: A Practical Online Training Plan

To improve at xiangqi online, balance four things: a small opening repertoire, daily tactics, key endgames, and honest review of losses. Here's a plan that works.

Coach Aisha RahmanNov 22, 2025 9m

Guides

Xiangqi Ratings Explained: How Online Ranking Systems Work

What does your Xiangqi rating actually mean? This clear guide explains how online ranking systems work, how ratings change after games, and how to use them to improve.

Daniel OkaforNov 18, 2025 8m

Guides

The Cannon in Xiangqi: How to Master the Game's Trickiest Piece

How the xiangqi cannon really works: it slides like a rook but leaps one screen to capture, plus the hollow-cannon and horse-and-cannon mates that win games.

Coach Aisha RahmanFeb 3, 2026 9m

Guides

The Chariot in Xiangqi: Commanding the Most Powerful Piece

Master the xiangqi chariot, the strongest piece in Chinese chess. Learn its rook-like movement, open files, doubling, pins, and endgame dominance.

Coach Aisha RahmanFeb 10, 2026 8m

Guides

The Horse in Xiangqi: Movement, Tactics, and Traps

Understand the xiangqi horse: its knight-style leg move, the hobbling block, forks and outposts, plus how to trap an enemy horse in Chinese chess.

Mei LinFeb 17, 2026 8m

Guides

The Elephant in Xiangqi: Defensive Play Explained

Learn how the xiangqi elephant defends the palace: its 2-point diagonal move, the elephant's eye block, the river limit, and connected-elephant defense.

Mei LinFeb 24, 2026 7m

Guides

The Advisor in Xiangqi: Guarding the Palace

Discover how the xiangqi advisor guards the palace: its 1-point diagonal move, blocking chariot and cannon checks, and why a missing advisor is fatal.

Coach Aisha RahmanMar 3, 2026 7m

Guides

The Soldier in Xiangqi: From Pawn to Powerhouse

A complete guide to the xiangqi soldier (兵/卒): how it moves, why crossing the river changes everything, and how to turn humble pawns into winning weapons.

Mei LinMar 10, 2026 7m

Guides

The General in Xiangqi: Keeping Your King Safe

Everything about the xiangqi general (帥/將): how it moves inside the palace, the flying-general rule, and defensive ideas that keep your king safe and healthy.

Zhang WeiMar 17, 2026 7m

Guides

How to Win at Xiangqi: 12 Practical Tips for Better Results

Learn how to win at xiangqi with 12 practical tips covering the opening, piece coordination, king safety, and endgame technique for immediately better results.

Coach Aisha RahmanMar 24, 2026 9m

Guides

10 Xiangqi Tips That Will Improve Your Game Fast

Ten focused xiangqi tips to improve your game fast: sharpen your opening, coordinate pieces, avoid blunders, and build the endgame skills that win real games.

Zhang WeiMar 31, 2026 8m

Guides

How to Practice Xiangqi: A Study Plan That Actually Works

Learn how to practice xiangqi with a realistic weekly study plan covering tactics, openings, endgames, and game review to build lasting improvement.

Coach Aisha RahmanApr 7, 2026 8m

Guides

Xiangqi for Kids: A Fun Way to Teach Chinese Chess

A parent's and teacher's guide to xiangqi for kids: simple ways to teach the pieces, rules, and first games of Chinese chess (象棋) with joy.

Mei LinJan 13, 2026 7m

Guides

Xiangqi Glossary: Key Terms Every Player Should Know

A clear xiangqi terms glossary covering pieces, the board, tactics, and Chinese and Vietnamese vocabulary every 象棋 and Cờ Tướng player should know.

Zhang WeiJan 20, 2026 8m

Guides

How Long Does It Take to Learn Xiangqi?

How long does it take to learn xiangqi? A realistic timeline for Chinese chess (象棋), from your first hour to solid club play, with a practice plan.

Daniel OkaforJan 27, 2026 7m

Guides

How to Play Xiangqi Online for Free (2026 Guide)

Learn how to play xiangqi online free in 2026: get started in minutes, find opponents and bots, and improve at Chinese chess (象棋) without spending a cent.

Mei LinApr 14, 2026 7m

Guides

How to Play Cờ Tướng: Vietnamese Chinese Chess for Beginners

How to play Cờ Tướng, Vietnamese Chinese chess: trap the enemy general on a 9×10 board. Learn the pieces — Tướng, Mã, Xe, Pháo, Tốt — the rules, and first moves.

GM Lê MinhMay 19, 2026 8m

Guides

Xiangqi Rules FAQ: Your Top Questions Answered

A clear xiangqi rules FAQ: how the board and pieces work, how you win by checkmate or stalemate, the flying-general rule, draws, and perpetual check explained.

Mei LinMay 8, 2026 9m

Guides

Perpetual Check and the Chasing Rules in Xiangqi

Understand perpetual check in xiangqi: why endless checks and chasing an unprotected piece are banned, how the rules decide the result, and how to play them right.

Zhang WeiMay 15, 2026 8m

Guides

How Draws Work in Xiangqi: A Clear Guide

Understand xiangqi draw rules in plain language: agreement, insufficient material, repetition, perpetual check, and move limits that decide when a game is drawn.

Zhang WeiMay 22, 2026 7m

Guides

Stalemate in Xiangqi: Why It's a Loss, Not a Draw

Stalemate in xiangqi is a loss for the player who cannot move, unlike Western chess. Learn why the rule exists and how it changes endgame technique.

Mei LinMay 29, 2026 6m

Guides

The Best Xiangqi Books and Learning Resources

Looking for the best xiangqi books and resources? This guide maps the categories, from rules primers to endgame manuals, apps, and video channels for every level.

Mr. Tan WeiJun 19, 2026 7m

Guides

How to Play Chess: A Complete Beginner's Guide

Learn how to play chess from scratch: the board, how the pieces move, check and checkmate, castling, en passant, promotion, and your first game plan.

FM Elena PetrovaJan 6, 2026 7m

Guides

The Rules of Chess, Clearly Explained

The chess rules explained clearly: setup, legal moves, captures, castling, en passant, promotion, check, checkmate, and every way a game can be drawn.

Daniel OkaforJan 7, 2026 8m

Guides

How Each Chess Piece Moves

A piece-by-piece guide to how chess pieces move: pawns, knights, bishops, rooks, the queen, and the king, plus captures and the relative value of each.

Coach Aisha RahmanJan 9, 2026 9m

Guides

How to Set Up a Chess Board Correctly

Learn the correct chess board setup step by step: how to orient the board, place every piece, and remember the queen-on-color and white-on-right rules.

Mr. Tan WeiJan 11, 2026 10m

Guides

How to Read and Write Chess Notation

Master chess notation with this clear guide: the coordinate system, piece letters, captures, check and checkmate symbols, castling, and reading a full game.

Zhang WeiJan 12, 2026 7m

Guides

Castling in Chess: Rules and When to Castle

Everything about castling in chess: how kingside and queenside castling work, the exact rules and conditions, and the strategy of when to castle and when to wait.

Mei LinJan 14, 2026 8m

Guides

En Passant: Chess's Most Misunderstood Rule

En passant is chess's most misunderstood rule. Learn the three conditions for this special pawn capture, why it exists, and how to use it correctly.

FM Elena PetrovaJan 16, 2026 9m

Guides

Pawn Promotion in Chess Explained

Pawn promotion in chess turns a humble pawn into a queen or any piece you choose. Learn how promotion works, underpromotion, and how to convert an extra queen.

Daniel OkaforJan 17, 2026 10m

Guides

Check, Checkmate and Stalemate Explained

Confused about checkmate vs stalemate? Learn the difference between check, checkmate, and stalemate, why stalemate is a draw, and how to avoid throwing away wins.

Coach Aisha RahmanJan 19, 2026 7m

Guides

10 Chess Tips Every Beginner Needs

These 10 chess tips for beginners cover opening principles, piece safety, king safety, and endgame basics to help new players improve fast and win more games.

Mr. Tan WeiJan 21, 2026 8m

Guides

Common Chess Mistakes Beginners Make

Avoid the most common chess mistakes beginners make, from hanging pieces and ignoring threats to neglecting development and bringing the queen out too early.

Zhang WeiJan 22, 2026 9m

Guides

How to Win at Chess: A Practical Guide

Learn how to win at chess with a practical plan covering opening principles, tactics, king safety, converting advantages, and clean endgame technique.

Mei LinJan 24, 2026 10m

Guides

Scholar's Mate: The Four-Move Checkmate

Scholar's mate is the famous four-move checkmate that hunts the f7 square. Learn the exact moves, why it works, and the simple defenses that stop it cold.

FM Elena PetrovaJan 26, 2026 7m

Guides

The Fastest Checkmates in Chess

The fastest checkmate in chess ends the game in just two moves. Meet Fool's Mate, Scholar's Mate, and the quick opening traps every player should know.

Daniel OkaforJan 27, 2026 8m

Guides

Bullet, Blitz and Rapid: Chess Time Controls Explained

Chess time controls decide how fast a game feels. Learn the difference between bullet, blitz, rapid and classical, plus how increment and delay actually work.

Coach Aisha RahmanJan 29, 2026 9m

Guides

How to Play Chess Online for Free

Want to play chess online for free? This beginner's guide covers accounts, choosing games, ratings, bots, etiquette, and fair play so you can start today.

Mr. Tan WeiJan 31, 2026 10m

Guides

Chess for Kids: A Parent's Guide

Chess for kids builds focus, patience and problem-solving. This parent's guide covers when to start, how to teach the rules, and how to keep it fun.

Zhang WeiFeb 1, 2026 7m

Guides

How Long Does It Take to Learn Chess?

How long does it take to learn chess? You can grasp the rules in an hour, but real skill takes months to years. Here is an honest, level-by-level timeline.

Mei LinFeb 3, 2026 8m

Guides

Why Chess Puzzles Make You a Better Player

The real chess puzzles benefits go far beyond tactics: sharper pattern recognition, deeper calculation, and cleaner visualization. Here is how to train them right.

Coach Aisha RahmanJun 29, 2026 7m

Guides

The Best Chess Books for Every Level

A curated guide to the best chess books for beginners, intermediates, and advanced players — classics on tactics, strategy, and endgames, plus how to read them.

Mr. Tan WeiJun 30, 2026 8m

Guides

Chess Ratings and the Elo System Explained

Your chess elo rating predicts results from rating gaps. Learn how Elo math, K-factors, FIDE and online ratings work, and how to actually raise your number.

Mei LinJun 24, 2026 8m

Guides

A Chess Player's Guide to Learning Xiangqi

A chess player learning Xiangqi already knows more than they think. This guide maps rooks to chariots, knights to horses, and points out the traps to avoid.

FM Elena PetrovaJul 5, 2026 7m

Guides

How the Knight Moves in Chess

How does a knight move in chess? Master the L-shaped leap, why the knight jumps over other pieces, and simple fork tactics in this beginner guide.

FM Elena PetrovaJan 8, 2026 7m

Guides

How the Bishop Moves in Chess

How does the bishop move in chess? Learn its diagonal range, why each bishop stays on one colour, the bishop pair, and the fianchetto in this guide.

Daniel OkaforJan 16, 2026 8m

Guides

How the Rook Moves in Chess

How does the rook move in chess? Learn its straight-line power along ranks and files, its role in castling, and why open files win games.

Coach Aisha RahmanJan 25, 2026 9m

Guides

How the Queen Moves in Chess

How does the queen move in chess? Learn why the queen combines rook and bishop for the board's most powerful move, plus when to develop her safely.

Mr. Tan WeiFeb 3, 2026 10m

Guides

How the King Moves in Chess

How does the king move in chess? Learn its one-square steps, castling, why it can never move into check, and how king safety decides games.

Zhang WeiFeb 11, 2026 7m

Guides

How Pawns Move in Chess

Learn how pawn moves in chess work: the one or two-square first step, diagonal captures, en passant, and promotion. A clear beginner-friendly guide.

Mei LinFeb 20, 2026 8m

Guides

Chess Piece Names and What Each One Does

A clear guide to the chess piece names and what each one does, from the powerful queen to the humble pawn, plus the letter each piece uses in notation.

FM Elena PetrovaMar 1, 2026 9m

Guides

Chess Piece Values: The Points Explained

Understand chess piece values in one guide: pawn 1, knight and bishop 3, rook 5, queen 9, and how to use these points to judge trades and sacrifices.

Daniel OkaforMar 9, 2026 10m

Guides

How Many Squares and Pieces Are on a Chess Board?

How many squares on a chess board? Sixty-four, plus thirty-two pieces. A simple guide to the 8x8 grid, ranks, files, and setting the board up right.

Coach Aisha RahmanMar 18, 2026 7m

Guides

Draws in Chess: Stalemate, Repetition and the 50-Move Rule

A clear guide to every draw in chess: stalemate, threefold repetition, the fifty-move rule, insufficient material, and agreement, and when each one applies.

Zhang WeiApr 4, 2026 9m

Guides

Chess Terms: A Glossary for Beginners

A beginner-friendly glossary of essential chess terms, from rank and file to fork, pin, tempo, and zugzwang, grouped so the jargon finally makes sense.

Mei LinApr 13, 2026 10m

Guides

The Chess Starting Position and Best First Moves

Master the chess starting position: how to set up the board correctly, where every piece goes, and the best opening moves to begin your game with confidence.

Zhang WeiMay 26, 2026 7m