Xiangqi.com Move Limits

In the real world of xiangqi tournaments, there are different rules in place to prohibit annoying series of moves in the game. For in-person tournaments, judges are often called when there are complaints.

For xiangqi.com, we have four unambiguous move limit rules which are enforced automatically. We have an easier time enforcing consistent rules than judges since we are an online game, and we know every position that has been on the board at each move during the game.

Rule 1. Repetitive Check = DISABLED

Check: Make a move that would allow you to capture the opponent’s general in the next move

If a position pattern ABA (or ABCDA or ABCDEFA, etc.) has repeated for three time, and all first player moves are a check, we are going to disable this pattern from repeating the 4th time.

Rule 2. Repetitive Chase = DISABLED

Chase: Make a move that would allow you to use any pieces of yours, besides general and soldier, to capture at least one opponent’s unprotected piece, besides the general (it would be a check) or a soldier that hasn’t crossed the river, in the next move. However, if your opponent is capable of capturing your chasing piece after the move (e.g. you have just moved a chariot A to chase your opponent’s chariot B, your opponent can capture your chariot A using his chariot B immediately in his turn), the move would be seen as an “exchange invitation”, not a “chase”.

If a position pattern ABA (or ABCDA or ABCDEFA, etc.) has repeated for three time, and all first player moves are a chase against the same opponent’s piece, we are going to disable this pattern from repeating the 4th time.

Rule 3. Repeat no threat = DRAW

If a position pattern ABA (or ABCDA or ABCDEFA, etc.) has repeated for three time, and it is neither a repetitive check nor chase pattern, the game would draw immediately.

Both players should be alerted as soon as a move segment is repeated three times (e.g., ABABAB or ABCDABCDABCD). “Two move repetitions detected. Three repetitions results in a draw.”

Note 1: the position pattern ABACADA is allowed. We prevent repeating patterns not repeating board positions.

Note 2: if a piece is captured during a segment, we start over with evaluating repeat conditions (since you can’t capture the same piece more than once).

Rule 4. Drawn by No Capture

If neither side captures a piece for 30 moves per side (60 moves total), the game is declared a draw. Xiangqi.com will issue this warning at the 50th non-capture move - “One of the players must capture a piece within the next ten moves, else this game will be declared a draw”.