Xiangqi rules

Board

The board has 9 files and 10 ranks; the pieces stand on the intersections. The river in the middle splits the board into two halves. Each side has a 3×3 palace with diagonals, where the General and Advisors live. Each side has 16 pieces, Red moves first, and the players take turns, one move each.

How each piece moves

• General 帥 將 — Moves 1 step sideways or forwards/backwards, only inside the palace (the 3×3 area with diagonals). The two Generals may not face each other on the same file with nothing between them.
• Advisor 仕 士 — Moves 1 step diagonally, only inside the palace.
• Elephant 相 象 — Moves exactly 2 points diagonally, and may not cross the river. A piece in the middle of the diagonal blocks it (blocking the elephant's eye).
• Xe 俥 車 — Moves any distance sideways or forwards/backwards, without jumping over other pieces.
• Cannon 炮 砲 — Moves like the Chariot when not capturing. To capture, the Cannon must jump over exactly one piece (the screen) between it and the piece it captures.
• Horse 傌 馬 — Moves 1 point straight then 1 point diagonally (an L shape). A piece right next to it in the straight direction blocks it (hobbling the horse).
• Soldier 兵 卒 — Moves 1 step straight forward. Once across the river it may also move 1 step sideways. Soldiers never move backwards.

Capture by moving onto a square with an opponent's piece (the Cannon needs a screen). You may not make a move that leaves your own General in check.

The starting position. Red at the bottom, Black at the top.