Xiangqi FAQ

Checkmate the opposing general. You win when the enemy general is under attack and your opponent has no legal way out, so the general can't move to a safe point, the attacking piece can't be captured and the attack can't be blocked. Unlike in Western chess, stalemate is a loss for the player who has no legal move, not a draw.

Red, traditionally. That convention holds in casual games, in tournaments and on most online sites, PlayFaceToFace included.

Yes, though less often than in chess. Players can agree to a draw, and tournament rules deal with repeated positions, forbidding perpetual check and perpetual chase. Stalemate is never a draw. Our online game doesn't track repetition, so it never declares a draw on its own.

The two generals may never face each other on the same file with no pieces between them. You can't make a move that leaves them like that, whether you move your general onto the open file or move away the last piece between them. Because of this, a general controls the open file in front of it, and many checkmates use that. It creates tactical patterns you won't find in other chess games.

The palace is the 3×3 block of points in the middle of each side's back rank. The general and the two advisors can never leave it, though other pieces can enter it. It limits how the general moves, makes defence more structured and gives you a small area to protect. Control of the palace is central to Xiangqi strategy.

Elephants stay on their own side to keep them defensive, to stop too much early aggression and to keep attack and defence in balance. The restriction is one of the defining features of the game's design.

A cannon moves like a chariot, but to capture it must jump over exactly one piece, called the screen, and land on the enemy piece behind it. The screen can belong to either side. With no screen, or with more than one piece in the way, the capture is illegal.

No, soldiers never promote. After crossing the river they can also move sideways, which makes them much stronger. Advanced soldiers hem in enemy pieces, support attacks and often decide endgames.

The aim is similar, but a lot differs. Xiangqi uses a board of 9 by 10 lines with a river across the middle, and the general can't leave its palace. Cannons capture by jumping and have no chess equivalent. Horses can be blocked, which knights can't. Soldiers don't promote, and stalemate is a loss rather than a draw. Overall Xiangqi leans harder on initiative and direct confrontation.

That depends on the player. Xiangqi has simpler endgame rules, with no promotion and no castling, but mistakes get punished faster. Beginners often lose quickly because the palace is exposed. Chess players usually adapt fast, though they have some habits to unlearn.

Yes. Chess players pick up piece coordination quickly and already understand check and checkmate. The cannon and the palace rules take some getting used to. Many strong Xiangqi players started with chess.

Not really. The chariot is usually the strongest piece overall, and the cannon the strongest tactical one. Cannons are great at giving check, making threats through screens and supporting attacks. Chariots rule open files and endgames.

Strategically, the general, since losing it loses the game. Chariots are the strongest attackers and cannons the sharpest tactical weapons. Good play comes from getting all three working together.

The general can't run far, open files lead straight to check, and cannons create threats out of nowhere. Lose the initiative and you are often in danger right away, even when you are ahead in material.

Exposing the general too early, forgetting the facing generals rule, misusing cannons, leaving horses blocked, opening the central file too soon and grabbing material instead of keeping the initiative. Fixing these brings fast improvement.

No. Some endgame positions are well understood, but the game as a whole is far too complex to solve. Even modern engines keep finding new ideas.

A casual game usually takes 10 to 20 minutes, a competitive one 30 to 60. Online games tend to be quicker because the rules are enforced for you.

Yes. The basics are easy to learn, practice pays off, and it is good for building strategic thinking. Beginners get a lot out of playing online, where the rules are enforced automatically.

PlayFaceToFace has real-time Xiangqi with friends, optional video so you can see each other, clear move checking and quick rematches. You can also practise against the AI.

Learn the beginner principles, avoid the common mistakes, play slow and careful games, go over your losses, study cannon patterns and watch strong players. Playing regularly matters more than memorising.