Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) Checkmate Strategies

Authors:
David Kwan (Experienced Xiangqi Coach)
Jason Chi (Experienced Xiangqi Coach)
Jenny Yan (2016 U13 Women’s World Champion)

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1. Introduction

These videos also covered the 25 checkmate tactics

Xiangqi, also known as Chinese Chess, is a popular two-player strategy board game with a history of over a thousand years in China and surrounding regions. One of the most critical skills for Xiangqi players to master is learning various checkmating tactics that enable defeating an opponent. In this article, we will provide an overview of some of the most common and important checkmate techniques that all Xiangqi learners should know. Gaining familiarity with these checkmating strategies can greatly improve one's game.

2. The checkmate tactcs in xiangqi

2.1 White-Faced General Checkmate

(Main article: White-Faced General Checkmate)

In the White-Faced General Checkmate, we limit the movement of the opponent's general with our general by using the “flying general rule”, that the two generals cannot face each other along the same file with no intervening pieces, and then checkmate the opponent’s general using another piece.

White-faced general example 1

White-faced general example 2

2.2 Double Chariots Checkmate

(Main article: Double Chariots Checkmate)

In the Double Chariots Checkmate, we maneuver the two of our chariots to checkmate the opponent general.

Double chariots example 1

Double chariots example 2

2.3 Elbow Horse Checkmate

(Main article: Elbow Horse Checkmate)

In the Elbow Horse Checkmate, we move the horse to the “elbow horse positions”, which are I3, I7, B3, B7 to check the general, and deliver a checkmate by the coordination of other pieces.

Elbow horse example 1

Elbow horse example 2

2.4 Double Horses Checkmate

(Main article: Double Horses Checkmate )

Double Horses Checkmate is an advanced application of Elbow Horse checkmate.

The main idea is first using elbow horse check to expose the general, then using one horse to limit the opponent’s general movement and the other to checkmate.

Double horse example 1

Double horse example 2

2.5 Palcorner Horse Checkmate

(Main article: Palcorner Horse Checkmate)

In the palcorner horse checkmate, we move the horse to the Palace corner to give a check. Much like the Elbow Horse Checkmate, the main idea of Palcorner horse is also to first expose the general by horse, and then checkmate by other attacking pieces.

Palcorner horse example 1

Palcorner horse example 2

2.6 Golden Hooked Horse Checkmate

(Main article: Golden Hooked Horse Checkmate)

Golden Hooked Horse Checkmate is an advanced application of Palcorner Horse Checkmate. The main idea is to sacrifice a chariot or a soldier to deflect the opponent's central advisor, then perform the Palcorner Horse Checkmate.

Golden hooked horse example 1

Golden hooked horse example 2

2.7 Double Cannon Checkmate

(Main article: Double Cannon Checkmate)

Double Cannon Checkmate is using two overlapping cannons to checkmate. The opponent cannot block this checkmate in the front of the two cannons, because if he blocks, we can still checkmate by using the front cannon.

Double Cannon example 1

Double cannon example 2

2.8 Smothered Cannon Checkmate

(Main article: Smothered Cannon Checkmate)

In the Smothered Cannon Checkmate, we exploit the positional weaknesses of the opponent’s king by using the cannon the deliver a checkmate.

Smothered cannon example 1

Smothered cannon example 2

2.9 Double Toast Checkmate

(Main article: Double Toast Checkmate)

Double Toast Checkmate is an advanced application of smothered cannon checkmate. The main idea is to use two cannons to break through the bottom elephant defense and to perform the smothered cannon checkmate.

Double toast example 1

Double toast example 2

2.10 Smothered Checkmate

Smothered Checkmate is to checkmate the opponent by checking a general that is totally surrounded and has nowhere to go.

Smothered checkmate example 1

Smothered checkmate example 2

2.11 Eunuch Chasing Emperor Checkmate

Eunuch Chasing Emperor is an advanced application of Smothered Checkmate. The main idea is to use a soldier to check the opponent's general step by step with the support from general or chariot, and finally smother the opponent’s general.

Enunch chasing emperor checkmate example 1

Enunch chasing emperor checkmate example 2

2.12 Centroid Checkmate Checkmate

Centroid Checkmate occurs when a soldier or chariot occupies the palace center to restrict the movement of the opponent’s general, and then checkmate it using other pieces. The centroid piece can be either a chariot or a soldier.

Centroid checkmate example 1

Centroid checkmate example 2

2.13 Two Devils Knocking Checkmate

Two Devils Knocking Checkmate employs two soldiers to invade the opponent's palace and locks the two rib files, then uses another piece, usually general or chariot, to support one of them to take the general and checkmate.

Two devils knocking example

2.14 Cannons Sandwiching Chariot Checkmate

In the Cannons Sandwiching Chariot Checkmate, we checkmate the opponent’s general by the coordination between chariot and double cannon. This checkmate is usually carried out when the red side’s two cannons and a chariot are over the same side of the board.

Cannons Sandwiching Chariot Checkmate example 1

Cannons Sandwiching Chariot Checkmate example 2

2.15 Iron Bolt Checkmate

In the Iron Bolt checkmate, the key is to use the central cannon to pin the opponent’s defending pieces on the central file, then checkmate the opponent on the bottom rank or rib file while the opponent’s defending pieces cannot block or capture you.

Iron bolt checkmate example 1

Iron bolt checkmate example 2

2.16 Heaven and Earth Cannon Checkmate

This name is very figurative since the Heave and Earth Cannon checkmate is featured by a central cannon as the heaven and a bottom rank cannon as earth. The main point is to use the central cannon and the bottom rank cannon to pin the advisors and the elephants, then use another piece, usually a chariot, to checkmate.

Heaven and Earth cannon checkmate example 1

Heaven and Earth cannon checkmate example 2

2.17 Octagonal Horse Checkmate

This checkmate features a horse at one of the corners of the palace. The name octagonal comes from the fact that the horse controls eight crossings on the board. Octagonal Horse Checkmate is to use a palace corner horse to limit the movement of the general on another palace corner, then checkmate it with another attacking piece.

Octagonal horse checkmate example 1

Octagonal horse checkmate example 2

2.18 Angler Horse Checkmate

The horse sitting at H3, H7, C3, or C7 performs the angler, while the opponent’s general is the prey. The angler horse serves the purpose of restricting the movement of the general and assisting another attacking piece, usually the chariot, to take the advisor and checkmate.

Angler horse checkmate example 1

Angler horse checkmate example 2

2.19 Tiger Silhouette Checkmate

In this checkmate tactic, the horse is at G3, G7, D3, or D7, acting like a tiger and creating a tiger’s silhouette that threatens the opponent’s general and limits its movement. Then, another attacking piece, usually a chariot, will be used to checkmate.

Tiger Silhouette checkmate example 1

Tiger Silhouette checkmate example 2

2.20 Horse Cannon Checkmate

To perform Horse cannon checkmate, we need to first use a horse to completely restrict the general’s vertical or horizontal movement, then place a cannon right behind the horse on the same line to checkmate the general. Common Horse Cannon usually occurs in tactical combinations along with elbow horse checkmate or palcorner horse checkmate

Horse cannon checkmate example 1

Horse cannon checkmate example 2

2.21 Discovered Horse Checkmate

Discovered Horse depicts the situation that a horse is originally blocked by the chariot, and then after the chariot moves away, the horse becomes “discovered” and checkmates the opponent.

Discovered horse checkmate example 1

Discovered horse checkmate example 2

2.22 Three Chariots Attacking Advisor Checkmate

In this checkmate, first we need to place the soldiers and chariots around the opponent’s central advisor. Then, we use an attacking piece, usually the soldier, to destroy the defender's defense system by exchanging the two advisors and checkmate it. Many Xiangqi players believe that the soldier in the opponent’s palace is as powerful as a chariot, so this checkmate is called Three Chariots Attacking Advisor.

Three chariots attacking the advisor example

2.23 Throat Cutting Checkmate

In the throat cutting checkmate, we sacrificed a chariot/soldier for the opponent’s central advisor to destroy his defense, and then deliver a checkmate with another chariot/soldier.

Throat cutting checkmate example 1

Throat cutting checkmate example 2

2.24 Drawer Checkmate

This checkmate requires the cooperation between cannon, chariot, and general. Under the support provided by the cannon and the general, the chariot checks like pushing and pulling a drawer and finally let the opponent’s general have nowhere to escape.

Drawer checkmate example 1

Drawer checkmate example 2

2.25 Stalemate by waiting move

Stalemate means the opponent has no legitimate move to make in their turn. Unlike chess, stalemate is a win in Xiangqi. Sometimes, we can create a stalemate by making a waiting move.

Stalemate by waiting move example 1

Stalemate by waiting move example 2

2.26 Double Check 

It refers to using two pieces to check the opponent at the same time. For the defender, defending attacks from two directions is always more difficult than attacking from only one direction. This checkmate strategy is most effective when the movement of the opponent’s general is blocked by its advisors.

Double check example 1

Double check example 2

3. Conclusion

In summary, being able to recognize and execute checkmate sequences is an indispensable part of becoming proficient at Xiangqi. The dozen checkmating techniques covered in this video, from basic tactics like White-Faced General to more advanced maneuvers like Two Devils Knocking, provide a solid introduction to this essential Xiangqi skill. With dedicated practice to embed these checkmate strategies, any Xiangqi player can significantly enhance their ability to defeat opponents. Mastering these vital checkmating tactics is key to winning more games and getting better at this classic game of strategy.