Chinese Chess Rules and Piece Moves

The board and objective

The board has nine files and ten ranks, divided by a river. Red normally moves first and the two sides then alternate.

A general is checkmated when it is attacked and no legal move can remove the threat. The game validates immobilization and repeated positions consistently.

How the seven piece types move

Chariots slide orthogonally; horses move one point straight and one diagonally but can be blocked at the leg; cannons slide like chariots and need exactly one screen to capture.

Elephants move two points diagonally, cannot cross the river, and can be blocked at the eye. Advisors move one point diagonally inside the palace. Generals move one point orthogonally inside the palace. Soldiers move forward and gain sideways moves after crossing the river.

• Chariot: any clear orthogonal distance.
• Horse: an L-shaped move with a blockable leg.
• Cannon: exactly one intervening piece when capturing.
• Soldier: never moves backward.

Check and the flying-general rule

When in check, you must move the general, capture the attacker, block the line, or otherwise remove the attack immediately.

The two generals may not face each other on an open file. Any move that leaves your own general attacked is illegal.