Chinese Chess - Game Pieces and Instructions

Nov 2, 2026

Uploaded by Marglet

Chinese Chess instructions explain setup and movement rules for all major pieces: General, Advisors, Elephants, Horses, Chariots, Cannons, and Soldiers. The General is described with palace limits and the special “Flying General” capture condition. Cannon capturing requires jumping an intervening piece, while Horses follow an L-shaped pattern and Elephants cannot jump. The objective is checkmating the opposing General, with check declared when threatened. The guide also covers turn order, point-based placement, notation, captures, and the stalemate losing rule.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryTechnology

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

Game Pieces

General

Advisors

Elephants

Horses

Chariots

Cannons

Soldiers

Instructions

Game Pieces 將/帥: General: The General starts at the very center of the back row, inside the palace (the four squares with the X through them) . Generals can move one point forward, backward, or side-to-side. If the two Generals face each other across the board with no intervening pieces, the General may leap the board to capture the other piece, provided it is for checkmate (this is called the “Flying General”) . 士/仕: Advisors: The Advisors flank the General on either side at the start. They can only move one point diagonally per turn, and must stay inside the palace. 象/相: Elephants: Elephants start the game next to the Advisors. They can move two points diagonally at a time and cannot jump other pieces on the board. 馬/傌: Horses: Horses start the game on the outside of the Elephants. They can move one point forward, back, or side-to-side, followed by one point diagonally. Horses cannot jump other players. 車/俥: Chariots: The Chariots start the game in the corners ofthe last row. They can move forward, back, or side-to-side over any distance. Chariots cannot jump other players. 砲/炮: Cannons: Cannons start the game two points in front of the horses. They can move any distance forward, back, or side-to-side, but can only capture a piece by jumping an intervening piece first (friend or foe) . 卒/兵: Soldiers: Soldiers start the game at every other point on the row closest to the river. They can move forward one point at a time. After crossing the river, they can move one point side-to-side as well. Instructions The objective of Chinese Chess (or Xian qi) is to capture the opposing player’s pieces while defending your own. Chinese Chess is over when one player captures the other player’s General. 1. Pieces are set up according to the placement provided above. Pieces are placed on the “points” of the board rather than within the squares. Pieces move along the lines of the board throughout play. 2. Red moves first. After that, turns alternate between the two players. 3. Players keep numbered notations of each move and response move in the following format: (Piece Name): (Column Number,) (Row Number). E.g. Horse: 4, 9. Captures can be noted here as well. 4. For each turn, a player moves their piece from one point to another. If that point is occupied by an enemy piece, the piece is captured. 5. Players move according to the rules for each piece listed above. 6. If the General is in danger of being captured, he is “in check.” This position must be announced. 7. When the General can no longer move without being captured, it is considered “checkmate” and the game is over. 8. If a stalemate occurs, the player with no legal moves left over loses.

FAQs

What is the objective of Chinese Chess?

The objective is to capture the opposing player’s pieces while defending your own. The game ends when one player captures the other player’s General.

How do the Generals move, including the “Flying General” rule?

Generals move one point forward, backward, or side-to-side inside the palace. If the two Generals face each other with no pieces between them, a General may leap to capture the other piece for checkmate, called the “Flying General.”

How can Cannons capture a piece?

Cannons can move any distance forward, backward, or side-to-side, but they capture only by jumping an intervening piece first, whether that intervening piece is friend or foe.

Nov 2, 2026

Uploaded by Marglet