Xiangqi FAQ & Support
Common questions about Chinese Chess (Cờ Tướng), and help with the Cờ•Chess•Qi app.
Need help with the app? Email support@cochessqi.com — include your username and we'll usually reply within two business days.
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What is Xiangqi (Chinese Chess)?
Xiangqi, also called Chinese Chess or elephant chess, is a two-player strategy game in which the goal is to checkmate the opponent's General. It is the most popular board game in China and one of the most-played strategy games in the world.
What does Cờ Tướng mean?
Cờ Tướng is the Vietnamese name for Xiangqi, and it literally means General's chess — in contrast with Western chess, called cờ vua, or King's chess. The game is hugely popular in Vietnam.
How is Chinese Chess different from Western chess?
Pieces move on the line intersections of a 9-by-10 board split by a central river, and each side has a General confined to a 3×3 palace instead of a roaming king and queen. Chinese Chess also adds the Cannon, has no queen, and treats stalemate as a loss rather than a draw.
Is Xiangqi hard to learn?
The basic rules and piece moves are easy to pick up in an afternoon, but Xiangqi is very hard to master. Attacks happen fast and tactics dominate every phase.
How long does it take to learn Chinese Chess?
You can learn the rules and start playing within an hour. Reaching a genuinely strong level typically takes several years of regular practice, with mastery taking far longer.
How does the Cannon move in Xiangqi?
The Cannon moves like a Chariot (rook) — any number of empty points horizontally or vertically. To capture, it must jump over exactly one piece of either side (the screen) and land on the enemy piece directly beyond it.
How do the Horse and Elephant move, and can they be blocked?
The Horse moves one point straight then one point diagonally outward, but is blocked if a piece sits on the point it would step through first (hobbling the horse's leg). The Elephant moves exactly two points diagonally, cannot cross the river, and is blocked if a piece occupies the midpoint (blocking the elephant's eye).
How does the Soldier (pawn) move in Chinese Chess?
Before crossing the river, a Soldier moves and captures one point straight forward only. After crossing the river it can also move and capture one point sideways, but it can never move backward.
What is the flying general rule?
The two Generals may never face each other directly along the same file with no pieces in between. Any move that would leave the Generals staring at each other on an open file is illegal.
What are the pieces and the board setup in Xiangqi?
Each side has 16 pieces: 1 General, 2 Advisors, 2 Elephants, 2 Horses, 2 Chariots, 2 Cannons, and 5 Soldiers, played on a 9-wide by 10-deep grid with a central river and a palace on each side. Red traditionally moves first.
Can I play Xiangqi for free, online or offline?
Yes. Many platforms let you play free against the computer or live opponents, and free mobile apps are available. Several apps also include an offline mode so you can play with no internet connection.
How old is Chinese Chess and where did it come from?
Xiangqi originated in China and has roots traced back well over a thousand years. The earliest written description of its rules appears in a Tang dynasty story, and the game reached essentially its modern form by the Southern Song dynasty.
What happens in a stalemate or with perpetual check in Xiangqi?
Unlike Western chess, a player who has no legal move (stalemate) loses rather than drawing. Perpetual check — repeatedly checking the General with no progress — is also forbidden and results in a loss for the offending player.
About the app
Is Cờ•Chess•Qi free?
Yes. Cờ•Chess•Qi is free to download and free to play — online matches, tournaments, puzzles, and the bot ladder all cost nothing. An optional Diamond Club membership adds founding your own Clubhouse, hosting clubhouse tournament events, and importing a board position with the camera. Joining a clubhouse, entering tournaments, and creating your own tournaments stay free. Current pricing and any free trial are shown in the app before you buy. Diamond Club renews automatically until cancelled — manage or cancel it any time in Settings → your Apple Account → Subscriptions.
Why can't I sign in?
Sign in with the same method you registered with — Apple, Google, or a password. If you registered with a username and password, the sign-in field accepts either your username or the email you registered. If you have used Sign in with Apple before, use that rather than creating a second account with the same email, since they are separate accounts. Still stuck? Email support@cochessqi.com.
I didn't get my verification email.
Accounts created with a username and password must verify their email address before Play, Home, and Community unlock — until then you can still use the Academy. Check your spam folder for a message from noreply@cochessqi.com, then tap Resend email on the verification screen in the app. If it still doesn't arrive, email support@cochessqi.com from the address you registered and we'll verify you manually.
How do I delete my account?
In the app: Menu → Security → Account → Delete Account. Deletion takes effect immediately and cannot be undone. If you can't sign in, you can request deletion by email instead — full instructions, and exactly what is deleted versus anonymized, are on our account deletion page. Deleting your account does not cancel a Diamond Club subscription; cancel that with Apple first.
How do I contact support?
Email support@cochessqi.com. Please include your username and, if you're reporting a problem with a specific game or tournament, roughly when it happened — that's usually enough for us to find it. We aim to reply within two business days.
What is the System Bot in Cờ•Chess•Qi?
The System Bot is your personal hint and evaluation coach in the Academy. It suggests strong moves and shows how your position stands so you can learn Xiangqi faster. You choose how strong your coach is — starting with Iron Ox — and unlock tougher ones as you improve.
What happens if my opponent never moves in a Daily game?
Their move clock runs out and the game ends as a win for you on time. If neither player ever made a move, though, the game does not change anybody's rating — ratings only move once both players have played at least one move, so a game nobody turned up for costs you nothing. Rated tournament games are the exception: if you enter a tournament and never show up, the loss is rated.
Which devices does Cờ•Chess•Qi support?
Cờ•Chess•Qi runs on iPhone and iPad with a recent version of iOS. It is not available on Android or desktop.
When does Cờ•Chess•Qi launch?
Cờ•Chess•Qi is launching soon on the Apple App Store. Check back at cochessqi.com for availability.