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

Introduction

I bet you are wondering how to play Chinese chess, which is not surprising. It is an ancient Fascinating Strategy Game, whose name is Xiangqi. Millions of people across Asia have been fascinated with this game. Though there are similarities with Western chess, it provides new challenges, strategies and an entirely different line-up of Chinese chess pieces. You are either a total newbie or an old pro in chess and would like to see a different battlefield? This guide will take you through the basics of Xiangqi and enable you to get into it to have some fun.

What Is Chinese Chess (Xiangqi)?

Chinese Chess or Xiangqi is a traditional two-player strategy game with the same ancestry as international chess and its own flavor. Xiangqi is played in China and most of East Asia and has been played over the centuries because it reflects the Chinese philosophy, military thinking, and balance.

You will order generals, cannons, elephants and soldiers instead of kings and queens. The battlefield? A river-divided board with palaces and intersecting lines rather than solid squares. The goal? Capture your opponent’s General while navigating unique movement rules and terrain.

Chinese Chess Board and Setup

The Xiangqi board is 9 lines wide and 10 lines deep, as compared to the 8x8 board of Western chess; the pieces of the Xiangqi are located at the intersections of the lines, rather than in squares. There is a river flowing horizontally across the center and 3x3 palace area on each side.

Key Board Features:

• The River (middle row): restricts Elephants and affects Pawn movement.
  

• The Palace (marked square for each player): only Generals and Advisors may enter.
  

• No color alternation: the board is typically unicolored wood or light brown.
  
  

Starting Setup:

• Each side starts with 16 pieces arranged on their first five ranks.
  

• Red traditionally goes first, though this can vary.
  

Pro Tip: Always double-check the palace boundaries—moving a General out of it is illegal!

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Chinese Chess Pieces and Their Movement

Xiangqi uses 16 pieces of red and black color each controlled by a different player. Most of the games reflect international chess ideas, although the rules of movement and the positioning of the pieces are very different. This is how the major pieces are broken down:

General (King)

• Stays inside the 3×3 palace
  

• Moves one point at a time—up, down, left, or right
  

• Cannot face the opposing General directly with no intervening pieces (known as “flying general” rule)
  
  

Advisors (Guards)

• Also restricted to the palace
  

• Move diagonally one step
  

• Act as bodyguards to the General
  
  

Elephants (or Ministers)

• Move exactly two points diagonally
  

• Cannot cross the river, limiting them to your half of the board
  

• Blocked by any piece in their path

Horses (Knights)

• Move one point orthogonally, then one diagonally outward—similar to an “L” shape
  

• Blocked if adjacent orthogonal space is occupied
  
  

Chariots (Rooks)

• Move any number of points vertically or horizontally
  

• The most powerful pieces—often central to early attacks
  
  

Cannons

• Move like chariots when not capturing
  

• To capture, must jump exactly one piece (called the "screen") over to capture the next enemy piece
  

• No capture is possible without a screen!

Soldiers (Pawns)

• Move one step forward before crossing the river
  

• Once across, they can also move left or right, but never backward
  

• Do not promote like pawns in Western chess
  
  

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How to Play Chinese Chess: Basic Rules

When the board is in place and the pieces are known, then it is time to play. The goal of Xiangqi is easy: checkmate your opponent General by placing him or her into a situation where he or she cannot avoid being captured. However, the road to victory has certain rules of Chinese chess that are not the same as the Western chess.

Step-by-Step Rules:

1. Red moves first.
   In most traditional games, the red player always starts.
   

2. Pieces move on the intersections, not in squares.
    This means you'll place and move pieces on where the lines cross, not inside cells like in Western chess.
   

3. The General must stay within the palace.
    It cannot move outside the 3×3 grid in the center of each player's side.
   

4. Generals may never face each other directly.
   The move is unlawful if there are no pieces in the same file between them.
   

5. Check and checkmate work similarly to international chess.
    You must warn when placing the General in check, and a checkmate ends the game.
   

6. Draws can happen.
    Draws occur by perpetual check, repetition, or stalemate—but the specific rules vary slightly by region.
   

7. No pawn promotion.
   Unlike Western chess, soldiers do not transform into stronger pieces upon reaching the end rank.
   
   

Tip: Get familiar with each piece’s movement and test them in short practice games before playing full matches.

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Sample Game: Chinese Chess Moves in Action

In order to observe the dynamics of the game of Xiangqi as it occurs in a real game, we are going to go through a scenario during the opening stage. This will assist you to learn the flow of the game, how the pieces are coordinated, and what are the early strategies to be considered.

Sample Opening Moves (Red starts):

1. Red Chariot to the center file (C2=5)
   Red develops a powerful piece early to control the center.
   

2. Black Horse moves forward (h8-g6)
   Black begins developing knights (horses), common in early strategy.
   

3. Red Cannon jumps over a pawn (C8=5)
   A key tactical move, creating early pressure in the center.
   

4. Black advances soldier (S3+1)
   Black pushes a pawn across the river to begin flanking.
   

This short sequence shows how dynamic Xiangqi can be from the very start.

FEN for this position (after move 4):
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While we currently don’t stock Chinese chess sets, our gifts collection includes beautiful options for chess lovers exploring global variants like Xiangqi.

Beginner Tips and Strategies for Xiangqi

Xiangqi can appear to be complicated at a glance, but new players can advance rapidly by paying attention to a number of ideas. These newbie tricks will assist you in preventing mistakes at an early stage and take control of the board.

1. Develop Chariots and Cannons Early

These are your most powerful and mobile pieces. Use them to control central files and pressure the opponent from a distance.

2. Don’t Rush the General or Advisors

Keep your defensive structure intact in the early game. The palace exists for a reason—protect your General behind guards.

3. Use Horses Strategically

Unlike in Western chess, Xiangqi horses can be blocked. Always check if a square is in the way before moving.

4. Control the River

Crossing the river with pawns or applying pressure in the center creates long-term attacking potential. Use the center cannon or chariot to dominate.

5. Create Screens for Cannons

Cannons need a screen to capture. To establish attack lines, strategically use your own pawns or little pieces.

6. Coordinate, Don’t Rush

Overextending with one piece—especially a chariot or horse—can leave it trapped. Make sure every move supports your overall plan.

Learning Xiangqi improves your overall board sense. Our chess boards are ideal for players looking to sharpen their skills across multiple variants.

Where to Buy a Chinese Chess Set

When you want to learn and enjoy Xiangqi offline, having a real board can be a significant improvement. The classic Chinese chess games are usually of wood, stone or engraved plastic and the pieces are not in the form of figurines but are painted with Chinese characters.

Nonetheless, Xiangqi sets are not stocked so frequently beyond Asia. Currently, we do not stock real Chinese chess sets-- however, we have a considered range of premium international chess equipment available to suit the needs of hobbyists at every level.

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Check out our chess gifts collection for elegant options inspired by global chess culture.

FAQ – How to Play Xiangqi

How do you play Chinese chess step by step?

Begin by putting all 16 pieces a side in their usual positions on the intersections of the board. The first to move is red. One player moves one piece of their color at their turn following the rules of movement. The goal is to make a checkmate of the other General, but with all the limitations, including the palace borders and the interactions of pieces.

Is Chinese chess harder than chess?

It depends on your background. Xiangqi also implements various tactical factors such as the river rule, cannon rules, and palace rules, which may be strange to Western players. But it is viewed by many as just as difficult and strategy-laden, only with a different focus.

What is the format of Chinese chess?

A board measuring nine by ten squares, with castles at either end and a river in the center, is used to play the Xiangqi game. Each player controls 16 pieces. The game emphasizes central control, cannon tactics, and coordinated assaults, typically played with a time control in formal settings.

How do you win Chinese chess?

You can win when you checkmate the General of your opponent- positioning it in a way that it cannot escape and there is no legal way to do it. A draw may result due to stalemate, repetition or perpetual check. River-crossing The advanced players usually form mating nets comprised of cannons, chariots and soldiers.

Can I play Xiangqi online for free?

Yes! Some websites to play Xiangqi online without any costs include chess.com, xiangqi.com, and Android or iOS mobile applications. It is possible to find puzzles and AI opponents on these platforms as well.

Final Thoughts

The Chinese chess or Xiangqi introduces a new strategic world. At first its rules and board can be unfamiliar, but the basics are surprisingly intuitive, particularly to people who already like classic chess. This is a simple way to start playing chess, as you are learning the fundamentals, moving pieces around the board, and learning newbie tactics, you will be on your path to one of the most popular board games on the Asian continent.

You might want to get to Xiangqi as a source of curiosity, or a desire to expand your repertoire in the area of chess; either way, it is a worthwhile and potentially hard endeavor. And you may even come back to your international games with some new tactical knowledge.