CBGChinese Board Games GuideRules and annotated records for strategy learners

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Xiangqi Rules and Record Notes

Chinese chess rules, pieces, openings, endgames, and annotated records.

Articles
44
Primary format
Rules plus records
User path
Read, compare, replay mentally
Rules encyclopedia

Read these rules before the record examples

This hub keeps the game rule sheet, notation, source note, and record archive together so a reader can verify the game before comparing outside records.

Rule sourceWorld Xiangqi RulesXiangqi legality, piece movement, competition terminology, and rule-card boundaries.NotationPiece-file notation1. Red C8=5 | Black H7+7Record contextXiangqi Record Database ContextLinked only as an external record context. This site does not copy XQBase game scores or present its annotated record notes as database records.
Setup

Xiangqi starts from a river board with palaces, advisors, elephants, horses, chariots, cannons, and soldiers in fixed files. The setup matters because cannons need screens, horses can be leg-blocked, and palace pieces cannot be read like free chess pieces.

Win condition

The practical goal is to checkmate or trap the opposing general under Xiangqi legality. Record notes should therefore identify checks, guards, palace limits, and material grabs that are only safe after the general is not exposed.

Legal move

Each piece has its own movement rule: chariots slide, horses step with a blockable leg, cannons capture over one screen, elephants and advisors are restricted, soldiers change after the river, and generals stay inside the palace.

Turn order

Players alternate one legal move at a time. A record line is useful only when each reply is legal under check, palace, river, cannon-screen, and horse-leg constraints.

Notation bridge

Piece-file notation is not decoration; it tells the reader which piece moved, from which file, and whether the move advanced, retreated, or shifted. The rule card should be read beside the notation before judging the plan.

Common rule trap

The common beginner trap is treating a cannon or horse as if it attacks freely. A cannon without the right screen or a horse with a blocked leg can make a move look active while the record shows it was illegal or harmless.

Variant line

Regional notation, opening names, and competition wording can differ, but this site keeps one reader notation and checks it against the public rule source instead of mixing incompatible score conventions.

Record reading bridge

Beginner records name one legal plan, intermediate records compare a reply that changes timing, and advanced records test whether a forcing line still obeys screens, pins, river timing, and palace safety.

Complete archive

44 indexed record pages for this section.

By record level

Archive map

Start with one section, then compare the neighboring level or game family.

Beginner records12 recordsFirst: Xiangqi Beginner First-Plan Record: Red C8=5 River LaneIntermediate records12 recordsFirst: Xiangqi Intermediate Rules: Safe Reply Setup with Red C6=5Advanced records12 recordsFirst: Xiangqi Advanced Rules: Corner Pressure Setup with Red C7=5All-level reference notes8 recordsFirst: Xiangqi All-Level Rules: Shape Check Setup with Red C8=5

Topic index

Choose the kind of record work you want before opening the full archive.

Beginner records

12 records
beginnerXiangqi Beginner First-Plan Record: Red C8=5 River LaneChinese chess river lane first-plan line: the line opens 1. Red C8=5 | Black H7+7; 2. Red H3+3 | Black R8=6 and turns on the cannon screen, horse leg, river, and palace guard constraints.beginnerXiangqi Beginner First-Plan Record: Red C6=5 Safe ReplySafe reply first-plan line for Chinese chess: name the cannon screen, horse leg, river, and palace guard constraints, replay 1. Red C6=5 | Black H8+7; 2. Red H3+3 | Black R8=6, and compare the next record page.beginnerXiangqi Beginner Rules: River Lane Setup with Red C7=5Chinese chess river lane rules note: the line opens 1. Red C7=5 | Black H6+7; 2. Red H3+3 | Black R8=6 and turns on the cannon screen, horse leg, river, and palace guard constraints.beginnerXiangqi Beginner Rules: Center Route Setup with Red C4=5Replay Red C4=5 in this Xiangqi center route rules note, then use Black H8+7 to see why opening a rook file while the palace guard is still pinned fails.beginnerXiangqi Opening Record: Red C7=5 River LaneChinese chess river lane opening pattern: the line opens 1. Red C7=5 | Black H6+7; 2. Red H3+3 | Black R8=6 and turns on the cannon screen, horse leg, river, and palace guard constraints.beginnerXiangqi Opening Record: Red C4=5 Center RouteReplay Red C4=5 in this Xiangqi center route opening pattern, then use Black H8+7 to see why chasing a central check that leaves the flank rook loose fails.beginnerXiangqi Endgame Record: Red C6=5 Shape CheckA compact Xiangqi shape check endgame pattern where Red C6=5 meets Black H8+7, with the cannon screen, horse leg, river, and palace guard constraints as the check point.beginnerXiangqi Endgame Record: Red C2=5 Final TempoXiangqi final tempo endgame pattern: new readers replay Red C2=5, test Black H7+7, and catch starting a cannon attack without a stable screen.beginnerXiangqi Strategy Record: Red C8=5 Safe ReplySafe reply strategy position for Chinese chess: name the cannon screen, horse leg, river, and palace guard constraints, replay 1. Red C8=5 | Black H7+7; 2. Red H3+3 | Black R8=6, and compare the next record page.beginnerXiangqi Strategy Record: Red C3=5 Route RepairXiangqi learners inspect red cannon file 3, black horse file 6, and rook file 1 in this route repair strategy position before trusting Red C3=5.beginnerXiangqi Record Comparison: Corner Pressure with Red C7=5Xiangqi guide to corner pressure comparison path: read red cannon file 7, black horse file 6, and rook file 9, follow 1. Red C7=5 | Black H6+7; 2. Red H2+3 | Black R9=8, and separate the rule cue from habit.beginnerXiangqi Record Comparison: Timing Choice with Red C4=5This Xiangqi page makes moving the horse before checking whether its leg is blocked visible by pairing Red C4=5 with Black H8+7 in a timing choice comparison path.

Intermediate records

12 records
intermediateXiangqi Intermediate Rules: Safe Reply Setup with Red C6=5Chinese chess safe reply rules note: the line opens 1. Red C6=5 | Black H8+7; 2. Red H3+3 | Black R8=6 and turns on the cannon screen, horse leg, river, and palace guard constraints.intermediateXiangqi Intermediate Rules: Route Repair Setup with Red C2=5Replay Red C2=5 in this Xiangqi route repair rules note, then use Black H7+7 to see why opening a rook file while the palace guard is still pinned fails.intermediateXiangqi Intermediate Reply Record: Red C8=5 Corner Pressure TurnA compact Xiangqi corner pressure reply line where Red C8=5 meets Black H7+7, with the cannon screen, horse leg, river, and palace guard constraints as the check point.intermediateXiangqi Intermediate Reply Record: Red C3=5 Timing Choice TurnXiangqi timing choice reply line: intermediate readers replay Red C3=5, test Black H6+7, and catch starting a cannon attack without a stable screen.intermediateXiangqi Opening Record: Red C8=5 Shape CheckXiangqi guide to shape check opening pattern: read red cannon file 8, black horse file 7, and rook file 9, follow 1. Red C8=5 | Black H7+7; 2. Red H2+3 | Black R9=8, and separate the rule cue from habit.intermediateXiangqi Opening Record: Red C3=5 Final TempoThis Xiangqi page makes grabbing the river pawn before the cannon file is safe visible by pairing Red C3=5 with Black H6+7 in a final tempo opening pattern.intermediateXiangqi Endgame Record: Red C7=5 Safe ReplyChinese chess safe reply endgame pattern: the line opens 1. Red C7=5 | Black H6+7; 2. Red H3+3 | Black R8=6 and turns on the cannon screen, horse leg, river, and palace guard constraints.intermediateXiangqi Endgame Record: Red C4=5 Route RepairReplay Red C4=5 in this Xiangqi route repair endgame pattern, then use Black H8+7 to see why chasing a central check that leaves the flank rook loose fails.intermediateXiangqi Strategy Record: Red C6=5 Corner PressureA compact Xiangqi corner pressure strategy position where Red C6=5 meets Black H8+7, with the cannon screen, horse leg, river, and palace guard constraints as the check point.intermediateXiangqi Strategy Record: Red C2=5 Timing ChoiceXiangqi timing choice strategy position: intermediate readers replay Red C2=5, test Black H7+7, and catch crossing the river before the supporting piece can answer.intermediateXiangqi Record Comparison: River Lane with Red C8=5River lane comparison path for Chinese chess: name the cannon screen, horse leg, river, and palace guard constraints, replay 1. Red C8=5 | Black H7+7; 2. Red H3+3 | Black R8=6, and compare the next record page.intermediateXiangqi Record Comparison: Center Route with Red C3=5Xiangqi learners inspect red cannon file 3, black horse file 6, and rook file 1 in this center route comparison path before trusting Red C3=5.

Advanced records

12 records
advancedXiangqi Advanced Rules: Corner Pressure Setup with Red C7=5Xiangqi guide to corner pressure rules note: read red cannon file 7, black horse file 6, and rook file 9, follow 1. Red C7=5 | Black H6+7; 2. Red H2+3 | Black R9=8, and separate the rule cue from habit.advancedXiangqi Advanced Rules: Timing Choice Setup with Red C4=5This Xiangqi page makes opening a rook file while the palace guard is still pinned visible by pairing Red C4=5 with Black H8+7 in a timing choice rules note.advancedXiangqi Advanced Reply Record: Red C6=5 River Lane TurnChinese chess river lane reply line: the line opens 1. Red C6=5 | Black H8+7; 2. Red H3+3 | Black R8=6 and turns on the cannon screen, horse leg, river, and palace guard constraints.advancedXiangqi Advanced Reply Record: Red C2=5 Center Route TurnReplay Red C2=5 in this Xiangqi center route reply line, then use Black H7+7 to see why starting a cannon attack without a stable screen fails.advancedXiangqi Advanced Threat Record: Red C8=5 Shape CheckA compact Xiangqi shape check threat sequence where Red C8=5 meets Black H7+7, with the cannon screen, horse leg, river, and palace guard constraints as the check point.advancedXiangqi Advanced Threat Record: Red C3=5 Final TempoXiangqi final tempo threat sequence: advanced readers replay Red C3=5, test Black H6+7, and catch grabbing the river pawn before the cannon file is safe.advancedXiangqi Opening Record: Red C8=5 Corner PressureXiangqi guide to corner pressure opening pattern: read red cannon file 8, black horse file 7, and rook file 9, follow 1. Red C8=5 | Black H7+7; 2. Red H2+3 | Black R9=8, and separate the rule cue from habit.advancedXiangqi Opening Record: Red C3=5 Timing ChoiceThis Xiangqi page makes starting a cannon attack without a stable screen visible by pairing Red C3=5 with Black H6+7 in a timing choice opening pattern.advancedXiangqi Endgame Record: Red C7=5 River LaneChinese chess river lane endgame pattern: the line opens 1. Red C7=5 | Black H6+7; 2. Red H3+3 | Black R8=6 and turns on the cannon screen, horse leg, river, and palace guard constraints.advancedXiangqi Endgame Record: Red C4=5 Center RouteReplay Red C4=5 in this Xiangqi center route endgame pattern, then use Black H8+7 to see why grabbing the river pawn before the cannon file is safe fails.advancedXiangqi Strategy Record: Red C6=5 Shape CheckA compact Xiangqi shape check strategy position where Red C6=5 meets Black H8+7, with the cannon screen, horse leg, river, and palace guard constraints as the check point.advancedXiangqi Strategy Record: Red C2=5 Final TempoXiangqi final tempo strategy position: advanced readers replay Red C2=5, test Black H7+7, and catch moving the horse before checking whether its leg is blocked.

All-level reference notes

8 records
all-levelsXiangqi All-Level Rules: Shape Check Setup with Red C8=5Shape check rules note for Chinese chess: name the cannon screen, horse leg, river, and palace guard constraints, replay 1. Red C8=5 | Black H7+7; 2. Red H3+3 | Black R8=6, and compare the next record page.all-levelsXiangqi All-Level Rules: Final Tempo Setup with Red C3=5Xiangqi learners inspect red cannon file 3, black horse file 6, and rook file 1 in this final tempo rules note before trusting Red C3=5.all-levelsXiangqi Opening Record: Red C7=5 Safe ReplyXiangqi guide to safe reply opening pattern: read red cannon file 7, black horse file 6, and rook file 9, follow 1. Red C7=5 | Black H6+7; 2. Red H2+3 | Black R9=8, and separate the rule cue from habit.all-levelsXiangqi Opening Record: Red C4=5 Route RepairThis Xiangqi page makes grabbing the river pawn before the cannon file is safe visible by pairing Red C4=5 with Black H8+7 in a route repair opening pattern.all-levelsXiangqi Endgame Record: Red C6=5 Corner PressureChinese chess corner pressure endgame pattern: the line opens 1. Red C6=5 | Black H8+7; 2. Red H3+3 | Black R8=6 and turns on the cannon screen, horse leg, river, and palace guard constraints.all-levelsXiangqi Endgame Record: Red C2=5 Timing ChoiceReplay Red C2=5 in this Xiangqi timing choice endgame pattern, then use Black H7+7 to see why chasing a central check that leaves the flank rook loose fails.all-levelsXiangqi Strategy Record: Red C8=5 River LaneA compact Xiangqi river lane strategy position where Red C8=5 meets Black H7+7, with the cannon screen, horse leg, river, and palace guard constraints as the check point.all-levelsXiangqi Strategy Record: Red C3=5 Center RouteXiangqi center route strategy position: mixed-level readers replay Red C3=5, test Black H6+7, and catch crossing the river before the supporting piece can answer.