🎮

Chinese Chess

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Chinese Chess Game Guide

📖 About

Chinese Chess (Xiangqi) is one of the world's oldest and most popular strategy board games, with over 2,000 years of history! Command your army across the River, using unique pieces with distinct movement patterns. The General stays protected in the palace while Chariots, Cannons, Horses, and Soldiers battle for position. Rich in tactical depth yet elegant in design, Xiangqi offers endless strategic challenges.

🎯 Objectives

Checkmate the opponent's General (King) by placing it under attack with no legal escape. Control the battlefield, cross the River with your Soldiers, and use each piece's unique abilities to outmaneuver your opponent.

🎮 How to Play

Click a piece to select it, then click a valid square to move. Pieces include General, Advisors, Elephants, Horses, Chariots, Cannons, and Soldiers.

⌨️ Controls

Click on your piece to select it, valid moves will be highlighted. Click a highlighted square to move. Each piece type has unique movement rules.

⚙️ Game Mechanics

  • ▸ General (将/帅): Moves one step orthogonally, confined to palace
  • ▸ Advisors (士): Move one step diagonally, confined to palace
  • ▸ Elephants (象): Move exactly 2 steps diagonally, cannot cross river, can be blocked
  • ▸ Horses (马): Move like chess knight but can be blocked by adjacent pieces
  • ▸ Chariots (车): Move any distance orthogonally (like chess rook)
  • ▸ Cannons (炮): Move like chariot, but capture by jumping over exactly one piece
  • ▸ Soldiers (兵/卒): Move one step forward, after crossing river can also move sideways

✨ Features

  • ★ River Boundary - Soldiers gain abilities after crossing
  • ★ Palace Restriction - Generals and Advisors stay within
  • ★ Cannon Jump - Unique capture mechanic
  • ★ Flying General - Generals cannot face each other directly

💡 Tips

  • ✓ The General cannot leave the palace
  • ✓ Cannons need a screen piece to capture
  • ✓ Horses can be blocked by adjacent pieces
  • ✓ Control the river crossing points

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What's the 'Flying General' rule?
Generals cannot face each other on the same file with no pieces between them. If your move would expose your General, that move is illegal.
Why can't my Horse move?
Horses can be 'hobbled'—if there's a piece adjacent to the Horse in the direction it wants to go, it cannot make that move.
How does the Cannon capture?
Cannons move like Chariots but must jump over exactly one piece (called the 'screen') to capture an enemy piece. They cannot capture without jumping.
What happens when Soldiers cross the river?
After crossing the river, Soldiers gain the ability to move sideways as well as forward, making them more versatile in attack.

Strategy Guide

Want to master Chinese Chess? Read our comprehensive strategy guide with expert tips and techniques.

Read Full Guide

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