How to Play Xiangqi (Chinese Chess)
Xiangqi (象棋), also called Chinese chess, is one of the most played board games in the world. Like Western chess it's a battle between two armies, and you win by trapping the enemy leader. But the board, the pieces and several rules are its own. On this page you'll learn the full rules. The pieces guide shows every move with a diagram.
The board
The board has 9 vertical lines (files) and 10 horizontal lines (ranks). Pieces stand on the points where lines cross, not inside squares.
- The river (楚河 汉界, "Chu River, Han Border") runs across the middle. Elephants can't cross it, and soldiers gain powers once they do.
- Each side has a palace (九宫): the 3×3 area marked with a diagonal cross. The general and its advisors must stay inside it.
The pieces
Each side has 16 pieces. Red's and Black's are the same except for the characters on some of them:
| Piece | Red | Black | Count | How it moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 帅 | 将 | 1 | One point up, down, left or right, inside the palace |
| Advisor | 仕 | 士 | 2 | One point diagonally, inside the palace |
| Elephant | 相 | 象 | 2 | Exactly two points diagonally; can't cross the river; blocked if the point between is occupied |
| Horse | 马 | 马 | 2 | One point straight, then one diagonally outward; blocked by a piece on the first point |
| Chariot | 车 | 车 | 2 | Any distance straight, like a rook |
| Cannon | 炮 | 炮 | 2 | Moves like a chariot; captures by jumping exactly one piece |
| Soldier | 兵 | 卒 | 5 | One point forward; after crossing the river, also one point sideways; never backwards |
Capturing
You capture by moving a piece onto a point held by an enemy piece, which is removed. Every piece captures the way it moves, except the cannon. A cannon needs exactly one piece in between, called the screen (炮架), and jumps over it to capture.
Check and the flying general
A general is in check when an enemy piece could capture it on the next move. You must get out of check, and you may never make a move that leaves your own general in check.
The two generals may never face each other on the same file with nothing between them. A move that opens the file between them is illegal. This "flying general" rule means a general can help with attacks from across the board.
Winning
- Checkmate: the enemy general is in check and no move gets it out. You win.
- Stalemate (困毙): the player to move has no legal move, even though their general is not in check. In xiangqi that player loses. This is different from Western chess.
Draws
kawu uses these simplified draw rules:
- No attackers: neither side has a chariot, horse, cannon or soldier left. Advisors, elephants and generals alone can't give checkmate.
- Repetition: the same position appears a third time with the same player to move. If one side gave check with every move of that cycle (perpetual check, 长将), that side loses instead.
- Long games: 60 moves each without a capture.
- Agreement: you can offer the computer a draw. It accepts when it's behind or the position is level and quiet.
Tournament rules also forbid "perpetual chasing" (长捉), where one side keeps threatening an unprotected piece. kawu doesn't judge chasing yet and treats such repetitions as draws.
Notation
Players record moves in two ways:
- Coordinates (used on kawu's English pages): files a–i from Red's left, ranks 1–10 from Red's side, for example h3-e3.
- Traditional notation (used on the Chinese page): piece, file, direction, number, for example 炮二平五 ("cannon on file 2 moves sideways to file 5"). Red counts files 一–九 from its own right; Black counts 1–9 from its own right. 进 means forward, 退 back, 平 sideways.
Playing on kawu
- Click a piece, then one of the highlighted points.
- Choose Chinese characters or pictures for the pieces in the settings.
- Undo takes back your move and the computer's reply. Hint suggests a move.
- Play Red or Black, or two players on one device.
- There's also a Chinese version of this page, with traditional notation.
Next: the pieces guide with a diagram for every move, and the xiangqi strategy guide.
Frequently asked questions
Who moves first in xiangqi?
Red always moves first. On kawu you play Red by default; you can choose Black in the settings.
Is stalemate a draw in xiangqi?
No. Unlike Western chess, a player who has no legal move loses, whether or not their general is in check. This is called 困毙 (kùn bì).
Can the two generals face each other?
No. The generals may never stand on the same file with no pieces between them. Any move that would cause this is illegal. That gives the general a long-range power: it pins anything standing between it and the enemy general.
Can a cannon jump over two pieces?
No. A cannon captures by jumping over exactly one piece of either colour. It can't jump to an empty point, and it can't jump two pieces.
What is perpetual check?
Giving check with every move to force a repetition. In xiangqi the side that checks perpetually must stop or lose. kawu applies this rule when a position repeats for the third time.
Last updated 2026-10-17