Play Chinese Chess Online With a Friend
Open a private board, send your friend the link and play two player xiangqi in the browser. Or sit on the same side of one screen and take turns.
Online, from anywhere
A private board is a room for two. You get a link and a six character code; your friend opens either one and sits down opposite you, on their own phone or computer, wherever they are. Nobody else can join and the game stays out of the public lobby.
Together, on one screen
Sitting next to each other? Open the board with A friend as the opponent and pass the device between moves. Legal moves light up when you pick a piece, which makes it a good way to teach someone the game at the kitchen table.
How to play Chinese chess online with a friend
1.Open a private board
Sign in, go to Play online and choose Create private board. Pick your time control and which side you want: Red, Black or random.
2.Send the link or the code
The board gets a link and a six character game code. Send either one to your friend by message, email or chat. A private board never shows in the public lobby.
3.Play
The game starts when your friend opens the link or types the code into Join by code. Moves appear on both screens straight away, and the clock runs on the server.
What the two of you get
- Your choice of clock. Untimed for a slow game across time zones, or bullet, blitz and rapid when you both want a race. The clock is kept on the server, so a slow connection costs nobody time.
- A voice at the table. Switch on the live microphone during the game and talk it over the way you would across a real board.
- A friends list. Add each other after the game to message and call without swapping numbers.
Teaching a friend the game
If your friend has never played, start on one device so you can point at the board. The rules take about ten minutes: the general stays in its palace, the horse can be blocked, the cannon jumps to capture, and the elephants never cross the river. Our xiangqi quick start covers each piece on a live board. Once they have a few games in, move to a private board so they can play you from their own screen, and when you both want a new opponent, play Chinese chess against the rest of the world or take on the computer.
Common questions
Is two player Chinese chess online free?
Yes. Private boards, the one device mode, the clocks and the move history are all free. Each online player needs a free account so the game knows who is sitting on which side.
Does my friend need an account?
For an online game, yes: it takes about a minute and keeps the game tied to the two of you, so either of you can reconnect after a dropped signal. For a game on one device, only the person who opens the board needs to be signed in.
Can we play on the same phone or computer?
Yes. On the computer page, choose A friend as your opponent. You take turns on one screen, which suits a tablet on a table or a laptop between two chairs.
What time controls can we use?
Untimed, bullet at one minute, blitz at five minutes plus three seconds a move, and rapid at ten minutes plus five. Untimed is the usual choice for a friendly game across time zones.
Can we talk during the game?
Yes. Either player can switch on a live microphone inside the game, and friends you have added can message and call each other from the friends list.
Do I need to download anything?
No. The game runs in any modern browser on a phone, tablet or computer. You can also install the site as an app from your browser if you want it on your home screen.