Xiangqi (Chinese Chess)

The traditional Chinese strategy board game played on a 9×10 board divided by a river.

The Board & Pieces

Xiangqi is played on the intersections of a 9×10 grid. Red moves first.

General (King): Moves one step orthogonally within the 3×3 Palace. The two generals may never face each other across an open file (flying generals).
Advisor (Guard): Moves one step diagonally within the Palace.
Elephant: Moves two steps diagonally and cannot cross the River. Its path can be blocked by a piece in the eye.
Horse: Moves one step orthogonally followed by one step diagonally outward (L-shape). It can be blocked by a piece at its 'leg' (hobbling).
Chariot (Rook): Moves any number of unoccupied points orthogonally.
Cannon: Moves like a chariot, but captures by jumping over exactly one intervening piece (the 'screen').
Soldier (Pawn): Moves one step forward. After crossing the River, it may also move one step left or right. Soldiers never move backward.

Checkmate & Stalemate: Checkmate wins. Stalemate is a loss for the stalemated player.
Perpetual Check & Chase: On threefold repetition, a player who checked or chased continuously loses under Asian Xiangqi Federation (AXF) rules.
Draws: 60 moves per side without a capture is an automatic draw.