How to Play Chinese Chess: The #1 Guide for Xiangqi Beginners

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Xiangqi (Chinese Chess / cờ tướng) is one of the most popular board game across the world. It is similar to International Chess in a certain extent, but also possesses lots of unique characteristics. This article covers the game rules, tactics, strategies and learning methods of Xiangqi for you to learn how to play Chinese Chess

Table of Content

Author:

Johnny Chen - Ex Professional Xiangqi Players

Jenny Yan - 2016 U13 Women’s World Champion

1. What is the Origin of Xiangqi?

1.1 Chaturanga

Some believe that all chess-like games across the globe have the same root - Chaturanga. Both Xiangqi and Chess evolved from Chaturanga with the integration of elements from their local cultures.

Chaturanga was a popular game in India between the 2nd and 4th century AD for 2 players on an 8x8 board. Each player starts with a king, an advisor, two elephants, two knights, two chariots, and eight pawns; the one who first checkmates wins. Initially brought to Southeast Asia and Central Asia, chaturanga then made its way to Europe and East Asia through Persia. In the Tang and Song dynasties, the evolution of Chaturanga gradually took shape in China, and Xiangqi with the characteristics of the Chinese political system came into being.

1.2 The Ancient Chinese General Hanxin

There is also a story about the origin of Xiangqi that has been passed down in folklore. Han Xin, a legendary General in the Chinese history, wanted to record his insights on the art of war in a book after being jailed, but was stopped from doing so by Empress Lu. Eventually, he came up with an interesting idea: Using the sand as the battlefield and carved 32 bamboo pieces to represent the army to simulate the way of warfare.


A jailer happened to admire Han Xin’s war strategy very much and learned a lot from him. After Han Xin's death, the jailer quitted his job and focused on studying Han Xin's theories on the art of war. He moved the grid from sand to paper and replaced the bamboo pieces with wood. This approach has been passed down from one generation to the next and finally transformed into modern Xiangqi.

2. Basic Xiangqi Rules

2.2 How to set up the Board?

(Main article: How to Start)

The Xiangqi board is a 9 × 10 square consisting of 9 vertical lines intersected by 10 horizontal lines. The vertical lines are called “files” and the horizontal lines are called “ranks”.

Pieces are then placed and moved on the 90 intersections formed by those lines.

The boxes in the middle of both the top and bottom of the board are called the ‘Palace’. Generals and Advisors can only move inside this area.

The area in the middle of the board that does not have any straight line crossing through is the 'River'. It plays an important role in Elephants' and Soldiers' moves.

Before each game begins, Red and Black should place their pieces in the required positions (See How to Start).

The position of Xiangqi does not have to be memorized by rote. Most players can remember the initial positions naturally as they learn more.

You can check this video for more details:

2.1 Pieces and its Values

(Main article: Pieces and Moves)

There are 32 pieces in Xiangqi, which can be divided into two groups: red and black. The number (16) as well as the type (7) of pieces for both Red and Black are equal:

  • General: --

  • Chariot: 9

  • Cannon: 4.5 (Opening) / 4 (Midgame and Endgame)

  • Horse: 4 (Opening and Midgame) / 4.5 (Endgame)

  • Advisor: 2

  • Elephant: 2

  • Soldier: 1 (Before crossing the river) / 2 (After crossed the river)

Introduction of the Xiangqi board and pieces

2.4 Criteria of Draw

A game is ruled as a "draw" if any of the following occurs during the game:

  1. One player proposes a draw request and the other player agrees;

  2. Neither of the players has any attacking pieces left, and thus no one could win; 

  3. Drawn by no capture 

  4. Drawn by repetition

2.3 Criteria of Victory

If one of the following occurs during a game, the player is won and the opponent is lost:

  1. Checkmated the opponent; 

  2. Stalemated the opponent; 

  3. The opponent is resigned

  4. The opponent’s timer is expired

2.5 Move Limits

(Main article: Xiangqi Move Limits)

There are two main types of move-limits in Xiangqi to prohibit annoying series of moves in the game:

2.5.1 Repetitive Check

“Check” means a move that can threaten the opponent’s General. On Xiangqi.com, the system prohibits a check pattern (all the moves made by one player are checking) from repeating consecutively more than three times.

2.5.2 Repetitive Chase

“Chase” is a move that can threaten one or more opponent’s piece(s). On Xiangqi.com, the system prohibits a chase pattern (all the moves made by one player are chasing) from repeating consecutively more than three times.

3. Basic Xiangqi Tactics

3.1 What are the Basic Attack and Defense Tactics?

3.1.1 Chase and Check

In Xiangqi, “chase” is a move that can threaten one or more opponent’s piece(s). Similar to “chase”, “check” means a move that can threaten the opponent’s General.

3.1.2 How to Defend against Chase and Check?

When being chased, the player can protect his/her pieces by:

  • Protecting

  • Escaping

  • Blocking

  • Removing the cannon mount

  • Counter chase.

However, when being checked, the player can only save his/her General by:

  • Escaping

  • Blocking

  • Removing the cannon mount. 

3.1.3 Sacrifice

Sometimes, players may have to sacrifice one or more pieces in order to gain positional advantage or checkmate.

3.1.4 Exchange

Exchange in Xiangqi means both players capture each side's piece(s) in a series of moves. When the opponent is prevailing due to positional advantage, such advantage can be weakened by exchanging its powerful pieces. Also, when the opponent is attacking intensively, we can also try to exchange pieces to increase the chance of a draw.

3.2 Checkmate tactics

(Main article: An Overview of xiangqi checkmate)

Here is a list of Xiangqi checkmate tactics:

3.3 Capturing tactics

Here is a list of Xiangqi Capturing tactics:

4. Basic Xiangqi Strategies

4.1 How to Play Chinese Chess Opening?

(Main article: 10 Most Important Xiangqi Opening Principles)

Developing the most powerful pieces (Chariots, Horses and Cannons) is the most important principle in Xiangqi opening.

4.1.1 How to use the Chariot in Chinese Chess Opening?

  • Develop it to spacious positions: The more position it controls, the more powerful it is.

  • Develop it as soon as possible: As the most powerful piece, Chariots have the most significant impact in the game. Therefore, it is very important to develop the chariots earlier to maximize their strength. 

  • Don’t place it in dangerous positions: Chariot is the highest-valued piece, therefore having it in dangerous positions would be too risky

4.1.2 How to use the Horse in Chinese Chess Opening?

  • Avoid being blocked by Soldier: Horse’s development can be easily blocked by opponent’s Soldier in Xiangqi opening (See Pieces and Moves), we should take this in mind and try our best to make both Horses open. Even sometimes it is inevitable to get one of them blocked, you should at least avoid the scenario of both Horses being blocked in the opening.

  • Avoid advancing recklessly: Horse is vulnerable when facing opponent’s Chariots. Therefore, they should always coordinate with other pieces instead of advancing alone. 

  • Avoid staying on the edges of the board: Horse can be easily captured by trapping on the edges

4.1.3 How to use the Cannon in Chinese Chess Opening?

  • Don’t cross the river immaturely: Cannon might lose its mounts easily if advancing without consideration, and the coordination among other pieces would also be weakened. Only advancing your Cannon across the river when you are sure that you can benefit from the move, like blocking the opponent’s Chariot’s development.

  • Be careful when trading for the opponent's Horse: Cannon has slightly higher value than the Horse in Xiangqi opening. It is because Horse would be frequently blocked in the opening when Cannon has lots of mounts in this period. Therefore, trading your Cannon for the opponent’s Horse in the opening usually isn’t a good idea.

  • Pay attention to piece coordination: Cannons can only be fully utilized through coordinating with other pieces, as they always need a mount to attack, control, and protect.

4.1.4 How to use the Soldier in Chinese Chess Opening?

  • Block the opponent’s Horses’ development: You can block your opponent’s Horse’s development by moving up your soldier on that file

  • Promote it when the file is cleared: When the file is cleared, which means your Soldier won’t be captured immediately after crossing the river, you can consider moving it across the river, as it would be upgraded afterward (See Pieces and Moves). It is a good way to make your opponent to lose his/her balance when the game is very positional. 

4.1.5 How to use the Advisors and Elephants in Chinese Chess Opening?

  • Advisors are the General's guardians. They provide good defense against the Chariots.

  • Two Elephants should be linked when it is applicable, so that they can form a strong defensive formation

  • Avoid placing the Elephants on 1st file or 9th file when it is unnecessary.

4.1.7 How to use the Generals in Chinese Chess Opening?

  • Don’t expose it: General is safest in the initial position, as it can be protected by the Advisors and Elephants there. Don’t move it away from there unnecessarily.

Xiangqi opening principles - and why they differ from chess

Don’t cross the river immaturely

4.2 What are the Common Chinese Chess Opening lines?

  • Same Direction Cannons

  • Opposite Direction Cannons

  • Central Cannon vs. Screen Horse Defense

  • Central Cannon vs. Sandwiched Horse Defense

  • Central Cannon vs. Single Horse Defense

  • Central Cannon vs. Left 3-Step Tiger

  • Central Cannon vs. Left Cannon Blockade

  • Central Cannon vs. Mandarin Duck Cannons

  • Central Cannon vs. Turtle Back Cannons

  • Central Cannon vs. Tandem Cannon Defense

  • Soldier Opening

  • Elephant Opening

  • Horse Opening


For a more detailed introduction of the opening lines, please watch The Most Popular Openings in Xiangqi | An Intro to the Chinese Chess Opening on our YouTube channel:

Beware of the cannon pin attack in the opening

4.3 How to Play Chinese Chess Midgame?

(Main article: 10 Most Important Xiangqi Midgame Principles)

We usually consider a game entering into midgame stage when pieces have basically been developed, formations are formed, and both sides have started to clash.

Due to its complexity and dynamicity, the midgame stage is generally considered to be the most difficult part of in Xiangqi. There are lots of tactics and theory to learn if you want to master the Xiangqi midgame.

Midgame tactics are the methods and techniques of coordinating pieces to combat. The goals of implementing those offensive or defensive tactics are either to gain material advantage or positional advantage. Beginners studying Xiangqi midgame should first focus on the basic tactics, but if you want to know more about the theory, you can also read 10 Most Important Xiangqi Midgame Principles.

4.4 What should the player do in Chinese Chess Midgame?

In general, the side that has the advantage (material and/or positional) would play more offensively, while the disadvantageous side would play more defensively.

The advantageous side usually should: 

  • Attack with all its strength to pursue a breakthrough;

  • Try to increase one’s advantage in a cautious manner;

  • When the material advantage is huge, try to exchange more pieces to ensure the victory.

To fight for a draw or a comeback, the disadvantageous side usually should: 

  • When the disadvantage is small, try to exchange more pieces to increase the chance of drawing the game

  • When the disadvantage is significant, try to make the situation as complex as possible, so there would be more chance for the opponent to make mistakes.

4.5 How to Play Chinese Chess Endgame?

(Main article: 10 Most Important Xiangqi Endgame Principles)

Solid knowledge for Endgame is indispensable in order to become a strong xiangqi player. One should learn various endgame patterns to gain the ability to guide the position to favorable patterns and avoid the unfavorable patterns.

Endgame patterns can be classified in theoretical win, theoretical draw, positional win and positional draw:

  • Theoretical Win Pattern means that the advantageous side can definitely win as long as both sides make the best moves.

  • Theoretical Draw Pattern means that the the position will definitely draw as long as both sides make the best moves.

  • Positional Win Pattern is the situation that it should be a theoretical draw if the disadvantageous side has set up the best defense formation, but it hasn’t, so the advantageous side has the opportunity to win.

  • Positional Draw Pattern is the situation that it should be a theoretical win if the advantageous side has set up the best offensive formation, but it doesn’t, so the disadvantageous side has the opportunity to draw the game.

In the next section, we will list some important endgame patterns.

4.6 What are the Common Chinese Chess Endgame Patterns?

Chariots can attack and defend rapidly, since they are the most powerful and flexible piece in Xiangqi. As a result, whether you have a Chariot or not makes a tremendous difference. Theoretical Endgame Patterns can be classified into three types according to whether or not a Chariot is present.

4.6.1 Theoretical Endgame patterns involving Chariots

Endgames involving Chariots means that both players have Chariot(s) in the current phase:

  • Chariot, Horse, and Advisor would win Chariot and 2 Advisors

  • Chariot, Horse, High-Soldier, and 2 Advisors’ would win Chariot, 2 Advisors and 2 Elephants (Full Guard)

  • Chariot, Horse, Soldier, and Full Guard would win Chariot, Cannon, and 2 Advisors

  • Chariot, Cannon, and Advisor would win Chariot and 2 Elephants

4.6.2 Theoretical Endgame patterns without Chariots

Endgames without chariots means that both players do not have any chariot in the current phase:

  • 2 High-Soldiers would win 2 Advisors

  • 3 High-Soldiers would win Full Guard

  • Horse would win Advisor

  • Cannon and Advisor would win 2 Advisors

  • Cannon, High-Soldier, Advisor and 2 Elephants would win Full Guard

  • Soldier would draw Advisor

  • Horse and Soldier would draw Full Guard

4.6.3 Chariot-present vs. Chariot-absent Theoretical Endgame patterns

Chariot-present v.s. Chariot-absent endgames means that one side has a chariot while the other does not in the current phase:

  • Chariot would win Horse - 2 Advisors

  • Chariot would draw Full Guard

  • Chariot would draw Cannon and 2 Advisors

  • Chariot would draw Cannon and 2 Elephants

  • Chariot would draw 2 Cannons

  • Chariot would draw 2 Horses

  • Chariot would draw Horse and Cannon

5. How to learn Xiangqi?

(Main article: 10 Ways to Improve Xiangqi Skills)

5.1 How to Learn Chinese Chess by Studying the Games of the Strong Players?

All players, no matter professionals or amateurs, need to study the games of high-level players in order to enhance their skills. However, one should bear in mind that quality is also important alongside quantity. When studying the games, besides going through the moves, the player should also analyze and learn the principles behind the moves, so he/she can really understand it. The following rules should be taken in mind throughout the study:

  • Select games from players who have a similar style with you

  • Study on topics related to your weaknesses

  • Value quality over quantity by analyzing the whole game intensively and striving to  completely understand the logic behind each move.

  • Think more on the player’s intention: What does the opponent have in mind for this move? What is he/she planning to do? What should I do? Which move is best? Get into the habit of doing more calculations.

  • Don’t be too rigid about the book move. The key is the strategic mindset, not the exact patterns or moves.

  • Study with partner(s) for mutual help and inspiration.

5.2 How to Learn Chinese Chess by Playing Games?

Playing games is the main way to improve your Chinese Chess skills. Beginners should pay attention to the following issues when playing:

  • Play a suitable number of games, because too few or too many will both would hinder improvement. Playing too few means that there is not enough chance to practice the knowledge and theories one has acquired over time, and experience cannot be accumulated due to the lack of exercise. Nevertheless, playing too many games might shift the focus from strategy to speed, which does not help hone any skills.

  • The level of the opponent should be similar to, or a little bit higher than your own, so the game would be challenging enough but not too challenging. Avoid playing against people who are way stronger, since such games will be ineffective and will likely ruin your mood as well as passion. Therefore, for example, you should find an opponent with a similar or slightly higher rating than yourself to play with on Xiangqi.com.

  • Analyze the game after it is ended; this will be covered in more details in the following section.

5.3 How to Learn Chinese Chess by Post-game Analysis?

Reviewing the game promptly after the game has ended and summarizing the insights are crucial. After a win, one should try to summarize the victorious experience and try to explore the rooms of improvement; after a defeat, one should reflect on the lessons learned and acknowledge the progress made compared to previous games.

Instead of only going through the tactical pros and cons of each single move, players should also review the calculation process behind each move on a strategic level, therefore the root causes of the problems can be realized and corrected.

In order to spot and improve inconspicuous issues, players can invite stronger players to assess the strengths and the weaknesses of their strategies. The post-game AI analysis function on xiangqi.com could also lend you a helping hand.

5.4 How to Learn Chinese Chess by Solving Puzzles?

Doing puzzles is another important way of practicing. One should begin with checkmate puzzles, starting with simple one-move, two-move, to the more complicated multi-move checkmates. This can help beginners understand the characteristics and ways to attack for each piece as soon as possible. Besides checkmate puzzles, practicing with the capturing puzzles would also be very helpful on improving midgame ability. 

Xiangqi.com offers a puzzle feature for players can learn and practice various checkmate and capturing tactics.

Calculate like a Grandmaster by Practicing Puzzles!

5.5 How to Learn Chinese Chess by Seeking Advice from the Strong Players?

Apart from the mentioned self-learning methods, it is also important to ask experts for their advice. They could help beginners avoid detours in the process of learning Xiangqi with their knowledge and experience. 

5.6 How to Learn Chinese Chess by Participating in Tournaments?

In addition to daily practices, beginners can also improve their xiangqi skills by participating in tournaments. In tournaments, the drawbacks that are invisible in daily practice might be seen; the reasons for lagging behind could also be explored; and the chance for coming up with ingenious moves in a fierce game is higher as well. Moreover, players can meet new friends who share the same interests. 

You can organize and participate in competitions on xiangqi.com.

6. What is the Difference between Xiangqi and Chess?

Because of the larger board (9x10 vs 8x8), 4 initially opened files, and the soldiers are not blocking the whole rank like the pawns in Chess, Xiangqi pieces have way better mobility compared to Chess pieces, so Xiangqi games are generally more tactical and intensive. 

On the contrary, chess boards are inherently closed and easy to result in closed and positional situation, where players have to accumulate small gains into the final win instead of a decisive knockdown. 

Therefore, usually aggressive players who prefer tactical games will generally enjoy Xiangqi more, while cautious players who prefer positional games may find the pace of chess more comfortable.

Comparison of Game Pieces and Moves between Xiangqi and Chess

Comparison of Opening Principles between Xiangqi and Ches

7. Additional Information

7.1 What are the Important Xiangqi Tournaments?

  • World Xiangqi Championship (世界象棋锦标赛)

  • Asian Xiangqi Individual Championship (亚洲象棋个人锦标赛)

  • National Xiangqi Individual Championship (全国象棋个人锦标赛)

  • National Xiangqi League A (全国象棋甲级联赛)

7.2 What are the Important Xiangqi Titles?

  • International Grandmaster (国际特级大师)

  • International Master (国际大师)

  • Chinese National Grandmaster (国家特级大师)

  • Chinese National Master (国家大师)

  • Chinese Regional Master (地方大师)

  • Chinese Level 1-10 Player (1-10级棋士) (the grade descends from 1-10)

7.3 Some Famous Xiangqi Players

7.3.1 Male Players

王天一 (1989)、郑惟桐 (1994)、孟辰 (1988)、赵鑫鑫 (1988)、蒋川 (1984)、吕钦 (1962)、许银川 (1975)、赵国荣 (1961)、孙勇征 (1981)、汪洋 (1984)、洪智 (1980)、谢靖 (1989)

7.3.2 Female Players

唐丹 (1990)、王琳娜 (1980)、左文静 (1993)、吴可欣 (1998)、陈幸琳 (1991)、赵冠芳 (1983)、唐思楠 (1997)、党国蕾 (1982)、张国凤 (1975)、陈丽淳 (1986)、欧阳琦琳 (1972)、金海英 (1978)

8. Summary: How to Play and Learn Xiangqi?

Learn the rules of xiangqi: how to move and capture pieces; how to judge a win and a loss;

  1. Learn the basic tactics of xiangqi, as well as the basic endgame patterns;

  2. Learn the opening theories, principles, and typical opening lines

  3. Learn the mid-game strategies, tactics, theories and principles;

  4. Study the experience and strategies of famous players by observing and analyzing their games through game annotation, commentary, and engine analysis;

  5. Apply the learned skills in games. If applicable, participate in a timed tournament and gradually hone your skills by performing post-game analysis.

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