Xiangqi FAQ
Common questions about Chinese Chess (Cờ Tướng).
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. The app is free to download and play. An optional Pro subscription is available.
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.