Xiangqi Strategy: 8 Tips to Win More Games

These eight ideas will make you a much stronger xiangqi player against both friends and the computer. If you're still learning how the pieces move, read the rules and the pieces guide first.

1. Get your chariots out early

The chariots are your strongest pieces, but at the start they're stuck in the corners. A common saying is "three moves without a chariot is a mistake". Open a path for them, often by moving the horse beside them, then bring them to open files.

2. Know the central cannon

The most common first move is the central cannon (炮二平五): a cannon moves to the centre file and aims at the enemy general, with the centre soldier as its screen. It threatens to capture that soldier and pressures the palace. To defend, bring both horses out (the screen horse defence, 屏风马) so the centre soldier is protected.

3. Don't hobble your own horses

Horses are easily blocked by pieces right next to them, your own included. Before moving a piece, check that you aren't standing in front of your horse. Also look for chances to block the enemy horse's leg with a piece of your own.

4. Keep your palace defended

Advisors and elephants rarely attack, but they protect your general. Losing them early leaves the palace open to chariots and cannons. A position with both advisors and both elephants (士象全) is very hard to break down.

5. Use the flying general

Your general controls its whole file against the enemy general. That means:

• an enemy piece standing between the two generals on an open file is pinned;
• in the endgame, moving your general to the side files can stop the enemy general from moving.

Many checkmates rely on the general to cover escape squares.

6. Cross the river with soldiers, together

A soldier that has crossed the river can also move sideways and is worth about twice as much. Two soldiers side by side across the river protect each other and are dangerous near the palace. A soldier that reaches the last row can only move sideways, so don't rush one to the edge.

7. Count before you capture

Many traps in xiangqi come from cannons. A capture may open a line for an enemy cannon, or remove the screen that was stopping one. Before taking a piece, look at every cannon on the board: after your move, does one have exactly one piece between it and something valuable?

8. Learn the basic winning endgames

With few pieces left, know what wins:

• one chariot against a lone general wins easily;
• horse or cannon plus a soldier usually wins against a bare general;
• a lone cannon can't checkmate on its own. It needs a screen, often your own general or advisor;
• a single soldier usually wins against a bare general if your general helps.

Also remember stalemate: leaving your opponent no legal move wins in xiangqi.

Practise on kawu

Start on Easy, then Normal. Use Hint to see what the computer would play. Turn on the move list to learn the notation, or play the Chinese version with traditional move names.

Last updated 2026-10-17