Play Xiangqi with a friend

ReadyYou
RedMoves first
BlueMoves second
RedMoves first
RedMoves first
Black
XMoves first
OMoves second
YellowMoves second
BlackMoves second
White
BlackMoves first
WhiteMoves second
WhiteOpening roll decides
BlackOpening roll decides
BlackMoves first2
WhiteMoves second2
RedMoves first
BlueMoves second
SouthMoves first
NorthMoves second

Enemy waters

Your fleet

A little nudge

Chinese Chess (Xiangqi)

Chinese chess (Xiangqi) is played on the intersections of a 9 by 10 board, divided by a river. Share an invite link to play online with a friend, take turns on one device, or choose the computer at Beginner or Advanced level. Free, with no sign-up.

How do you move the pieces?

Red moves first. Select your piece to see legal moves, then select a highlighted point. Capture by landing on an opposing piece. You cannot leave your general in check. Symbols below are shown as Red / Black.

General (king)
One point horizontally or vertically within the 3 by 3 palace. The two generals may never face each other along an open file.
Advisor
One point diagonally, always inside the palace.
Elephant
Two points diagonally. Cannot cross the river or jump over a piece on the intervening point (the “elephant’s eye”).
Horse
One point horizontally or vertically, then one diagonally outward. A piece on the first point blocks that direction (the “horse’s leg”).
Chariot
Any distance horizontally or vertically along a clear path.
Cannon
Moves like a chariot without capturing. To capture, it must jump over exactly one piece of either color, called the screen.
Soldier
One point forward. After crossing the river, it may also move one point sideways. Never backward; no promotion.

How do you win? What about repetition?

Checkmate or stalemate wins: your opponent loses if they have no legal move, even when not in check. Perpetual check loses; mutual perpetual check is a draw.

Repeated positions without check are not an automatic draw. Other repetition rulings, including perpetual chase, are not adjudicated in this version.

Can we continue in the same room?

Choose “Play again” after a result. Online, both players must accept. The score carries over and sides switch by default; tap the next-side line to change them.

How to play

  1. Share an invite link, play together on this device, or choose the computer at Beginner or Advanced level.
  2. Red moves first on the 9 by 10 board. Capture by landing on an opposing piece; never leave your general in check.
  3. Select one of your pieces to show legal moves, then select a highlighted point. On a phone, tap again to confirm.
  4. Piece moves (symbols shown as Red / Black):
    General (king)
    One point horizontally or vertically within the 3 by 3 palace. The two generals may never face each other along an open file.
    Advisor
    One point diagonally, always inside the palace.
    Elephant
    Two points diagonally. Cannot cross the river or jump over a piece on the intervening point (the “elephant’s eye”).
    Horse
    One point horizontally or vertically, then one diagonally outward. A piece on the first point blocks that direction (the “horse’s leg”).
    Chariot
    Any distance horizontally or vertically along a clear path.
    Cannon
    Moves like a chariot without capturing. To capture, it must jump over exactly one piece of either color, called the screen.
    Soldier
    One point forward. After crossing the river, it may also move one point sideways. Never backward; no promotion.
  5. Checkmate or stalemate wins: a player with no legal move loses, even when not in check. Perpetual check (checking through three repeated positions) loses; mutual perpetual check is a draw.
  6. Repeated positions without check are not a draw. Other repetition rulings, such as perpetual chase, are not adjudicated.
  7. Undo sits below the board. Online Undo needs your friend’s approval. On one device it reverses one move; against the computer it reverses your move and the reply. Finished games cannot be undone.
  8. Resign, also below the board, asks once more and then gives your opponent the round.
  9. After a game, choose “Play again” to start another round in the same room. Online, both players must accept. Sides switch by default and the score carries over.
  10. Progress is saved in this browser. Return here to try to resume after a refresh or disconnect; online recovery needs both players to reconnect. Changing devices or clearing browser data can prevent recovery.

Returning to a game

Progress is saved in this browser. For an online game, use the room link in the same browser; both players need to reconnect. Changing browsers, clearing browser data or an expired room can prevent a return. There is no cloud backup of your game.