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Chinese Chess: free online xiangqi

Chinese Chess
Play free nowFree · No download · No sign-up

Chinese chess, called xiangqi, is a classic board game from China. Two armies face each other across a river, and you win by trapping the other side's general.

You play red and move first, against the computer. All the rules are in, from the palace and the river to the cannon and the horse. New players can swap the Chinese characters for picture pieces, and tap any piece to see where it can go.

Also called: xiangqi online, play xiangqi against the computer, chinese chess game, free chinese chess, xiangqi

How to play

  1. Open the game and choose a level, from First steps up to Master. Win a level to open the next.
  2. You are red and move first. Tap a red piece, and dots show every place it can go. Captures are ringed. Tap a dot to move.
  3. Each piece moves its own way. The general and the advisors stay in the palace, elephants cannot cross the river, and a horse can be blocked by a piece beside it. The How to play card shows every move.
  4. The cannon slides along a line, and captures by jumping over exactly one piece.
  5. The two generals may never face each other on an open line. If a general is attacked, it is check.
  6. Trap the black general so it has no way out to win. A side with no legal move loses. The same position three times is a draw. Undo takes back your move and the reply, and Hint rings a good move.

Tips

Questions

Is Chinese Chess free, and do I need to download anything?

Yes, it is free. Chinese Chess plays right in your web browser with no download, no sign-up and no ads on the site. Just open the page and start.

Can I play on my phone or tablet?

Yes. Tap a red piece, then tap a dot to move it. On a computer, click, or use the keys: arrows to move the cursor, Enter to pick, U to undo and H for a hint.

Is Chinese chess the same as chess?

They are cousins, but not the same. Xiangqi is played on the lines, with a river and a palace, and it has cannons, elephants and advisors. A side with no legal move loses, where in chess that is a draw.

Can I use picture pieces instead of Chinese characters?

Yes. Open Settings and choose Pieces. You can show Chinese characters, or pictures of a crown, shield, elephant, horse, tower, cannon and pawn. You can switch at any time.

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