Xiangqi
Xiangqi is a traditional two-player game. Each side controls 16 pieces on a 9×10 grid of intersections, using chariots, horses, cannons, elephants, advisors and soldiers to protect its general and attack the opponent.
Xiangqi supports 2 players; community best: 2 players; playing time: 60 minutes. A WANGO browser trial is available.
Background & introduction
Xiangqi is a traditional two-player game. Each side controls 16 pieces on a 9×10 grid of intersections, using chariots, horses, cannons, elephants, advisors and soldiers to protect its general and attack the opponent.
Win by checkmate or stalemate. Horse legs, elephant eyes, the river, palaces and cannon screens restrict movement. Keep your general safe and prevent generals from facing on a clear file.
WANGO offers AI practice, local two-player play and friend rooms. Pieces use traditional Chinese glyphs in either language. Friend games have no clock or ranking changes; repetition and perpetual check follow WANGO casual rules.
Core rules & scoring
Chariots follow clear ranks or files. Horses move in an L shape and cannot jump a blocked first orthogonal step. Elephants move two diagonally, require a clear midpoint and cannot cross the river.
A non-capturing cannon moves on a clear line. Captures need exactly one intervening piece of either side as a screen.
Advisors move one diagonal step in their palace; generals move one orthogonal step there. Soldiers move forward, and may also move sideways after crossing the river, never backward.
Generals cannot face on a clear file. Keep your general safe after every move. A side with no legal move loses: checkmate if in check, stalemate otherwise.
On the third occurrence of the same board and side to move, a sole side checking on every move in the repeated segment loses; other repetition draws. Draw after 120 consecutive plies without capture; one move per side is two plies. Checkmate and stalemate take priority. Full tournament chasing rules are not implemented.
AI practice, local two-player play and friend rooms are available. AI offers hints and undo. Friends sign in and both ready up, then may resign or offer a draw for the other player to accept. Friend games have no clock or rankings.
Rules & gameplay questions
How do chariots, horses and elephants move?
Chariots follow clear ranks or files. Horses move in an L shape and cannot jump a blocked first orthogonal step. Elephants move two diagonally, require a clear midpoint and cannot cross the river.
Why do cannon captures need a screen?
A non-capturing cannon moves on a clear line. Captures need exactly one intervening piece of either side as a screen.
What limits advisors, generals and soldiers?
Advisors move one diagonal step in their palace; generals move one orthogonal step there. Soldiers move forward, and may also move sideways after crossing the river, never backward.
How do facing generals, checkmate and stalemate work?
Generals cannot face on a clear file. Keep your general safe after every move. A side with no legal move loses: checkmate if in check, stalemate otherwise.
How do repetition, perpetual check and 120 plies work?
On the third occurrence of the same board and side to move, a sole side checking on every move in the repeated segment loses; other repetition draws. Draw after 120 consecutive plies without capture; one move per side is two plies. Checkmate and stalemate take priority. Full tournament chasing rules are not implemented.
Which play modes are available?
AI practice, local two-player play and friend rooms are available. AI offers hints and undo. Friends sign in and both ready up, then may resign or offer a draw for the other player to accept. Friend games have no clock or rankings.
Rules & introduction sources
- Edition
- Supports AI practice, local two-player play and friend rooms. Friend games have no clock or rankings. Repetition and perpetual check use casual rules, not full tournament chasing adjudication.
- Rule references
- Introduction source
- BoardGameGeek
WANGO editorial
| Parameter | Recorded value |
|---|---|
| BGG overall rank (snapshot) | #2297 |
| Complexity Weight | 3.55 / 5 |
| Best player count (community) | 2 |
| Player range | 2 |
| Playing time (minutes) | 60 |
| Core mechanisms | Grid Movement · Pattern Movement · Square Grid · Static Capture · Sudden Death Ending |
| Chinese publication | Unconfirmed |
| WANGO browser play | Available · browser trial |
| Year published | 762 |
| Suggested age | 8+ |
BGG statistics are stored snapshots, not live rankings. Source checked：2026-09-27
Player questions
What is the best player count for Xiangqi, and can I play online?
Xiangqi supports 2 players; community best: 2 players; playing time: 60 minutes. A WANGO browser trial is available.
How complex is Xiangqi, and which mechanisms does it use?
Weight: 3.55 / 5. Mechanisms: Grid Movement · Pattern Movement · Square Grid · Static Capture · Sudden Death Ending. Chinese publication: Unconfirmed.
Where can I learn Xiangqi?
Available resources: Rule guide https://wangogame.com/wiki/games/xiangqi?tab=howto；Strategy https://wangogame.com/wiki/analysis/xiangqi；Play online https://play.wangogame.com/xiangqi/