Everything you need to go from complete beginner to confident club player: start with the complete rules guide, learn the main opening systems such as the Central Cannon and Screen Horse, then sharpen your finishing technique with endgame patterns and tactical motifs. All free to read, and every idea can be tried on the board in your browser.
Learn Chinese chess (xiangqi) from zero: the board, how every piece moves, win and draw conditions, and the rules beginners trip over — then play a game right here.
Learn the main xiangqi opening systems — Central Cannon, Screen Horse, Reverse Palace Horse, Immortal Guides the Way — with core ideas, typical variations and replayable demo boards.
The Central Cannon is the classic Chinese chess opening. Learn why Cannon 2 to 5 is played, the main Red plans — cross-river chariot, river-patrolling chariot, double cannons — and how Black answers with Screen Horse, Reverse Palace Horse or Same-Direction Cannon.
The Screen Horse is the most popular system against the Central Cannon. Learn the two-horses-side-by-side structure, the move order, the standard counter-attacking plans and the mistakes to avoid, so you have a solid defend-then-counter framework.
The Reverse Palace Horse is a modern tournament favourite: a horse up, then a cannon onto the palace file. Learn the structure, how it differs from the Screen Horse, its counter-attacking plans, and what Red tries against it.
Master classic endgame patterns and winning technique: chariot-horse, chariot-cannon and horse-cannon mates plus drawn fortresses — with replayable boards to practise each one.
A lone horse against a lone advisor is a textbook win. This guide explains why it is winning, the key plan and the standard technique, so you never again throw away a won endgame.
A lone chariot against both advisors and both elephants is one of the classic drawn endgames in xiangqi. This guide explains the defensive structure, why the extra chariot cannot break through, and the correct plans for both sides.
Earthworm Subdues the Dragon is one of the most widely circulated street xiangqi positions. Learn its structure, the trap hidden behind Red's apparent advantage, and the correct plans for both sides.
Middlegame tactics explained: forks, discovered attacks, pins, clearance and double threats — with demo moves showing when each motif actually works.
The fork is the most practical tactic in Chinese chess: one move attacks two enemy pieces, so you win one of them. Learn the common shapes, how to create them, and the checks to run before you play it.
A discovered attack is the most deceptive tactic in Chinese chess: the piece in front steps away, the line behind it opens, and one move creates two threats. Learn how to build it and how to spot it coming.
A pin makes an enemy piece afraid to move, because something more valuable stands behind it. Learn the three types of pin, how to create one, and the standard ways to break free — a skill that quietly wins positions.
Study classic xiangqi manuals and famous games — Orange Secret, Plum Blossom Manual and more — and see how strong players decide at the critical moment.
Long-form notes on xiangqi: product updates, how to use the endgame editor and replay export, and plain-language rule explanations — updated regularly.
Start with the complete rules guide: the board, how each of the seven pieces moves, and how games are won or drawn. Only then move on to openings and endgames.
No. Everything is free and runs in your browser. When an article shows a position you can jump straight into the AI game or an online match and try it yourself.
Rules is for absolute beginners; the openings section (Central Cannon, Screen Horse, Reverse Palace Horse, Immortal Guides the Way) suits beginners through intermediate players; endgames and tactics are for anyone who wants to calculate better in real games.
Once you know the rules, one opening system and the common endgame patterns, you can hold your own in most casual games. Replaying your own games and drilling specific positions is the fastest way to keep improving.