Xiangqi

Xiangqi, also called Chinese chess or elephant chess, is a popular strategy board game for two players. It is the most played board game in China and is enjoyed in many places with large Chinese communities, as well as in Vietnam, where it is known as cờ tướng, meaning "General's chess".

The game is like other chess-like games such as shogi, janggi, Western chess, chaturanga, and Indian chess. In xiangqi, players try to checkmate their opponent's general, or king. The game has special rules and pieces, like the cannon, which must jump over another piece to capture it. There is also a river on the board and a palace area that change how some pieces can move. Pieces are placed on the points where the lines of the board meet, not inside the squares.

Board

Xiangqi is played on a board that has nine lines across and ten lines up and down. Like the game Go, pieces are placed where the lines cross, called points. The vertical lines are called files, and the horizontal lines are called ranks.

In the middle of the board, there are two special squares where each player’s pieces start. These squares are called palaces. Between the two players’ areas is a line called the river. This river doesn’t change most moves, but it does change how soldiers move and stops elephants from crossing.

Rules

The pieces start in the position shown in the diagram above. Which player moves first has changed over time and varies in different parts of China. Some books say the black side moves first, while others say the red side moves first. In most modern games, Red moves first.

Players take turns moving one piece to a new spot. Pieces usually cannot move through other pieces, but the cannon has a special way of capturing. A piece can move to a spot with an opponent’s piece and capture it. Players cannot capture their own pieces. Pieces do not change into other pieces, but soldiers can move sideways after crossing the river. Most pieces capture the same way they move, except for the cannon, which has a special way of capturing.

The game ends when one player checks the other’s general. If the general is in danger of being captured on the next move, this is called a check. If the general cannot be protected, it is checkmate and the game ends.

Different rules exist to prevent endless checks. For example, using one piece to check repeatedly is not allowed. If both players keep moving without changing their strategy, the game can end in a draw.

Pieces

Each player has 16 pieces, usually red and black. The pieces are flat circles with Chinese characters showing what they are. The pieces are made from plastic, wood, or even jade.

General

Generals, also called kings, are labeled 將 (jiàng) for black and 帥 (shuài) for red. The general starts in the middle of the back edge, inside the palace. It can move one spot orthogonally but cannot leave the palace, except in one special case.

Advisor

Advisors, also called guards, are labeled 士 (shì) for black and 仕 (shì) for red. They start next to the general and move one spot diagonally, staying inside the palace.

Elephant

Elephants, also called bishops, are labeled 象 (xiàng) for black and 相 (xiàng) for red. They start next to the advisors and move two spots diagonally but cannot jump over pieces or cross the river.

Horse

Horses, also called knights, are labeled 馬 (mǎ) for black and 傌 / 马 (mǎ) for red. They start next to the elephants and move one spot orthogonally and then one spot diagonally, but can be blocked by pieces.

Chariot

Chariots, also called rooks or cars, are labeled 車 (jū) for black and 俥 / 车 (jū) for red. They start at the corners of the board and move any distance orthogonally but cannot jump over pieces.

Cannon

Cannons are labeled 砲 (pào) for black and 炮 (pào) for red. They start behind the soldiers and move like chariots, but can only capture by jumping over one piece.

Soldier

Soldiers, also called pawns, are labeled 卒 (zú) for black and 兵 (bīng) for red. They start one row back from the river and move forward one spot at a time. After crossing the river, they can also move sideways. They cannot move backward.

Mutual perpetual check A mutual perpetual check occurs with (see #Notation below for notation) 1.Hd7+ Hf4+ 2.Ae2+ Hh3+ 3.Af3+ Hf4+ 4.Ae2+ etc.

Approximate relative values of the pieces

These values give a rough idea of how strong each piece is, but they don’t consider where the pieces are placed on the board or how many pieces are left.

Some general rules to remember:

• A horse and a cannon together are usually better than two horses or two cannons.
• The chariot is the strongest piece and usually beats any two smaller pieces. Having more chariots often gives a player an advantage.
• Early in the game, cannons are stronger than horses because there are many pieces blocking horses. Later, horses become stronger for attacking.
• Soldiers change in value during the game. Early on, soldiers near the center are more useful. Later, soldiers that have moved far forward become less powerful because they can’t move backward. In the very end of the game, three soldiers in certain positions can be as strong as a chariot.

Handicaps

Xiangqi, like chess and shogi, has a system of handicaps. This helps when players have different skill levels. In a handicap game, the stronger player starts with fewer pieces. Usually, this means removing one or more of Red's pieces, such as a chariot, a cannon, or one or two horses.

There are special rules for these handicaps. For example, in a chariot handicap, the horse on that side can't be captured if it hasn't moved yet. In a cannon handicap, the other cannon can't be captured if it hasn't moved. With one or two horses missing, the middle soldier can't be captured until it moves. If two horses are missing, the chariot can't be captured if it returns to its starting spot. Players can also agree that the weaker player gets extra moves at the start, usually one to three moves, with each move using a different piece if there are more than one extra move. There are also other types of handicaps where many pieces are removed from one player's setup.

The two horses handicap game. Red's chariot moved to the original starting place of the horse, this chariot cannot be captured.

Notation

There are several ways to write down Xiangqi moves. Each way numbers the moves and writes them in a similar pattern.

One method uses numbers for the board rows and columns. Moves are written like this: [piece name] ([old row][old column])-[new row][new column]. For example, the most common first move is written as: 炮 (32)–35 馬 (18)–37.

Another method uses simple symbols to show movement. For example, the same first move is written as: C2=5 H8+7. Special symbols show if a piece moves forward, backward, or sideways.

A third method, used mostly by players outside of China, uses letters for columns and numbers for rows. Moves are written like this: Che3 Hg8. This method also uses special symbols to show when a piece is captured or puts the opponent in danger.

Each of these notation systems helps players record and share their games easily.

Name	Abbr.	Pieces
Advisor	A
Cannon	C
Chariot	R*
Elephant	E
General	G
Horse	H
Soldier	S
* using C would conflict with the letter for Cannon

System 1: 炮(38)–37 砲(38)–33 炮(37)–77 士(16)–25 炮(77)–107

System 2: Romanised: C8=7 C8=3 C7+4 A6+5 C7+3 Chinese: 炮八平七 砲8平3 炮七進四 士6進5 炮七進三

System 3: Cbc3 Chc8 Cxc7 Afe9?? Cxc10#

Gameplay

Xiangqi is a strategy board game for two players, similar to other chess games. Because of the board's size and the small number of long-range pieces, battles often focus on one area of the board.

Tactics

Xiangqi includes several tactics found in other chess games. Some common ones are:

• In a fork, one piece attacks two or more enemy pieces at once.
• A piece is pinned when it cannot move without exposing a more important piece to capture.
• A piece is skewered when it is attacked and, by moving, exposes a less important piece to be captured.
• A discovered check happens when an attacking piece moves and uncovers a line for another piece to check the enemy general.
• A double check occurs when two pieces threaten the enemy general at the same time.

Openings

Players usually start games by moving on the right flank, as it is considered clearer than the left. A common opening move is to move the cannon to the central column, called the "Central Cannon." The most common reply is to advance the horse on the same side. This move and response are known by the rhyme “Central Cannon, Horse Jumps.”

Middlegame strategy

In Xiangqi, controlling the center is less important than in other chess games, but attacking the middle file is still key. Players often look to attack on the sides if one side is weaker. Soldiers (pawns) are used differently in Xiangqi; they are often moved to avoid blocking their own pieces and do not usually support each other until later in the game.

Endgame

Endgames in Xiangqi require skill. There are known positions where one player can force a win or draw. Without pawn promotion, Xiangqi endgames focus more on checkmate or stalemate. Stalemate is a loss, so many draws come from fortresses where the player cannot make a move that doesn’t lose.

Zugzwang in xiangqi endgames

Inducing zugzwang — a situation where any move a player makes worsens their position — is important in simple endgames. For example, in a general plus soldier versus general endgame, the player to move often has to weaken their position.

Soldier (pawn) endgames

A soldier wins against a bare general easily. With extra defensive pieces, it becomes a draw. Two unadvanced soldiers can win against several defensive combinations, and three unadvanced soldiers can win against even more.

Horse endgames

A bare horse wins against a bare advisor but not against a bare elephant. A horse with a soldier can win against many defensive pieces, depending on the soldier’s position.

Cannon endgames

A bare cannon cannot win against a bare general. A cannon needs defensive pieces to act as platforms to attack. With enough defensive pieces, a cannon can win against various combinations.

Horse+Cannon endgames

This is a complex endgame. Known positions show when one side can force a win or draw based on the pieces each side has.

Chariot endgames

A single chariot cannot win against four defensive pieces but can win against fewer. With soldiers, a chariot can win against many combinations. Two chariots can draw against certain defensive setups.

Fork	Pin	Skewer
Red's horse (傌) at d5 forks black's soldier (卒) at c7 and cannon (砲) at e7.	Red's advisor (仕 ) and horse (傌) on d2 are both relatively pinned by Black's cannon (砲) at d4 to Red's chariot (俥) on d1. Black's horse (馬) on e9 is absolutely pinned by Red's horse at e8. It is illegal for the black horse to move, but it is safe from attack, while Black's cannon actively attacks the red horse and forces the red chariot to defend it.	Red's cannon (炮) at e1 is skewering black's general (將) at e8 and chariot (車) at e10. When the black soldier (卒) or general moves laterally to remove the check, the other will act as a platform for the red cannon to capture the black chariot.

Blockable double check	Double check met by capture	Double check that compels the general to move
Red's horse has moved to d7, creating a double check against Black's general, but Black can answer by moving the cannon to d8, blocking the horse and removing the cannon's platform	Red's horse has moved from e4 to d6, unveiling a double check with the cannon, but Black can reply by simply capturing the horse with the chariot.	Red's horse has moved from e6 to f8 and placed the black general in double check. Since, as in western chess, there are two independent lines of attack, Black cannot respond with any move other than moving the general to f10, whereupon Red wins Black's horse for free.

Triple check	Quadruple check	Triple check, alternate position
Red's horse (傌) has moved from e5 to d7, giving check and exposing a double check from the chariot (俥) at e3 and the cannon (炮) at e2.	Red's chariot (俥) has moved from f9 to e9, giving check and exposing a triple check from the cannon (炮) at e7 and both horses (傌) at f8 and g9. Replacing the chariot with a cannon or removing a horse produces a triple check.	Red's chariot (俥) has moved from f9 to e9, discovering two checks from both horses (傌) at f8 and g9 and gives check itself.

Liang vs. Zhao, 1982 Due to the pin of two pieces by the red cannon, Black's centroid horse has become a liability rather than an asset.

The most common opening pair of moves

Red wins with either side to move.

Reciprocal zugzwang: Whoever moves first loses.

Red to play wins; Black to play draws.

After 1. Ge3, Black must lose an advisor, since 1...Gd9 is met by 2.Ae2#. After 1. ...Ge10 2. Cxd8, taking the cannon with Axd8 is illegal as the advisor is pinned to its general (the generals may not face each other on the same file).

The drawing fortress for chariot vs horse + 2 elephants. Other defensive positions, aside from this position's symmetrical variation, generally lose: If, instead, the elephant on g6 had been on g10, then Red to play wins, starting with 1. Rb7.

History

Xiangqi, also known as Chinese chess, has a long history. Early mentions of a game called xiangqi date back to the Warring States period. However, the rules of that ancient game are not known, and it may not have been the same as the game we play today. Later, in AD 569, Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou wrote about a different game called xiangxi, which had rules that do not match modern xiangqi.

Most historians believe that today’s xiangqi developed from an Indian game called chaturanga. Some others think xiangqi started in China and then spread to other places. The earliest known rules for xiangqi appear in a story from the Tang dynasty.

By the Southern Song dynasty, xiangqi looked much like it does today. The game continued to grow in popularity, with many books and guides helping people learn and improve their skills. During the Qing dynasty, xiangqi became even more popular and evolved in new ways.

Modern play

Xiangqi, also known as Chinese chess, is played in leagues and clubs around the world. Each European country usually has its own league, like the United Kingdom Chinese Chess Association. Asian countries also have their own leagues, such as the Malaysia Chinese Chess Association.

There are also international federations and tournaments. The Chinese Xiangqi Association holds several tournaments each year. Other groups include the Asian Xiangqi Federation and the World Xiangqi Federation, which host competitions every two years for players from member nations.

The Asian Xiangqi Federation ranks players using a system similar to chess rankings. Top players include Tang Dan and Jiang Chuan, along with others like Zhao GuanFang, Xu Yinchuan, Lu Qin, and Wang LinNa. The federation also gives the title of grandmaster to players who excel or make big contributions to the game.

Xiangqi is also popular in computer competitions. The game has very high complexity, and computer programs play it in similar ways to chess programs, using different engines and graphical interfaces. Popular protocols help these programs communicate and compete against each other.

Variations

Blitz chess is a fast-paced version where each player has only about 5 to 10 minutes to make all their moves.

Manchu chess was created during the Qing dynasty. It is different because it does not include red horses, cannons, or one type of chariot, but the remaining chariot can act like horses and cannons.

Supply chess is played with four people forming two teams. Like in Bughouse chess, when a player captures an opponent's piece, they give it to their teammate to use in the other game. This can help the teammate gain an advantage.

In Formation, one player's pieces are placed randomly on one side of the board, except for key pieces like generals and advisors. The other player's pieces are set up to mirror the first player's arrangement. All other rules stay the same.

Banqi is a version more popular in Hong Kong. It uses the same pieces and board as Xiangqi but follows rules more similar to the Western game Stratego and the Chinese game Luzhanqi.

Variations played with special boards or pieces

There are many fun versions of Xiangqi for three or more players, each using special boards.

San Guo Qi
"Game of the Three Kingdoms" uses a hexagonal board with three teams (red, blue, and green). The board has a Y-shaped river splitting it into three areas. Each player has eighteen pieces, including two special ones that move in a special way. The leaders are named after ancient Chinese kingdoms.

San You Qi
"Three Friends Chess" was created a long time ago in Shexian, Anhui. It uses a Y-shaped board with a special triangular area in the middle. Players have some unusual pieces that move differently.

Sanrenqi
"Three Men Chess" is played on a cross-shaped board. There is a special neutral area called Han with extra pieces that become important when two players team up against the third.

Si Guo Qi
"Four Kingdoms Chess" is for four players on a cross-shaped board with no rivers, so elephants can move everywhere.

Qi Guo Xiang Qi
"Game of the Seven Kingdoms" is inspired by an ancient time in Chinese history.

In Unicode

Main article: Chess Symbols

Xiangqi pieces were added to Unicode in June 2018. They are part of the Chess Symbols block and have special codes called codepoints.