The board and starting position
The river divides the board into two halves. Each palace covers nine intersections. Capture by moving onto an enemy piece; you cannot capture your own pieces.
How the seven piece types move
- Chariot →
- Any clear distance along a rank or file; no jumping.
- Horse →
- One point straight, then one diagonally; the leg must be empty.
- Cannon →
- Moves along clear lines; captures over exactly one screen.
- Elephant →
- Exactly two points diagonally; the eye must be empty and it cannot cross the river.
- Advisor →
- One point diagonally inside its own palace.
- General →
- One point straight inside its palace; never facing the other general on an open file.
- Soldier →
- One point forward; after crossing the river it may also move sideways, never backwards.
Important movement restrictions
Either colour can block a horse leg or elephant eye. Elephants cannot cross the river. Advisors and generals stay in their palace; generals cannot face each other along an open file.
These are local movement diagrams. A real move must also keep your own general safe.
Check, replies and winning
When your general is attacked, you must remove the threat immediately. Checkmate loses; having no legal move also loses, even without check. Repeated positions follow this site’s rules.