Xiangqi rules
Xiangqi is played on the lines, not in the squares: ten ranks by nine files, ninety points in all. Red moves first.
This site follows the 2018 World Xiangqi Rules. Where that book and the Chinese 2020 rules disagree — mainly on perpetual chase — we follow the World rules.
The pieces
General (帥/將) moves one point up, down or sideways and stays inside the palace, the nine points marked by the diagonals.
Advisor (仕/士) moves one point diagonally and also stays in the palace.
Elephant (相/象) moves two points diagonally and may not cross the river. It is blocked if the point halfway is occupied.
Horse (傌/馬) moves one point straight then one diagonally. It is blocked by a piece on the straight step — not on the diagonal one.
Chariot (俥/車) moves any distance along a line, like a rook.
Cannon (炮/砲) moves like the chariot but captures only by jumping exactly one piece, of either colour, and taking the first piece beyond it.
Soldier (兵/卒) moves one point forward. After crossing the river it may also move sideways. It never moves back.
Ending the game
Checkmate wins. So does leaving the opponent with no legal move at all — unlike chess, that is a loss for the player who cannot move, not a draw.
Checking without a break also loses. If one side repeats a check three times and the other side does not, the checking side loses the game.
A game is drawn if the position repeats with neither side at fault, or if a hundred half-moves pass with nothing captured.
The two generals may never face each other down a file with nothing in between. A move that would leave them facing is not allowed.