XIANGQI KNIGHT — free online Chinese chess

Play Xiangqi Online Free — No Download, No Sign-up Needed

XIANGQI KNIGHT is a free online Chinese chess (Xiangqi) platform that runs in any modern browser. Open the page and you are at the board — nothing to install, nothing to pay. On a phone you can add it to your home screen and it behaves like a native app, and the AI mode even works offline. Whether you call it Xiangqi, Chinese chess, cờ tướng or 象棋, this is the place to play.

Five ways to play

• Online duels — real-time matchmaking with players worldwide and a rating ladder; if nobody joins, an AI player steps in so you never wait.
• Challenge a Friend — generate a private link, send it by any app, and your friend opens it to sit opposite you instantly. How friend challenges work →
• Play vs Computer — a built-in engine with five strength levels, from gentle beginner to grandmaster.
• Endgame Trials — 259 tactical puzzles, each mating line machine-verified. Browse the endgame collection →
• Local Duel — two players, one device, face to face.

How a game works

Red moves first. Online games use a 10-minute clock plus 90 seconds per move, and an anti-draw rule keeps games decisive: the same piece may not shuffle between two points 10 times in a row, and may not deliver nine consecutive checks with the same piece. Win by checkmating the enemy General — the flying-general rule means the two kings may never face each other on an open file.

Xiangqi vs international chess

Xiangqi shares DNA with chess but plays faster and more aggressively: the board is 9×10 with a river in the middle, pieces sit on intersections, the Cannon captures by jumping over a screen, and Soldiers promote after crossing the river. Full comparison: Xiangqi vs chess →

How the pieces move

Piece	How it moves
General (帥/將)	One point horizontally or vertically, but only inside the 3×3 palace. The two Generals may never face each other on an open file — the "flying general" rule.
Advisor (仕/士)	One point diagonally, confined to the palace. The General's bodyguard.
Elephant (相/象)	Two points diagonally. Cannot cross the river, and is blocked if a piece sits at the midpoint.
Horse (馬/马)	One point straight, then one point diagonally outward. Blocked by a piece beside it ("hobbling the horse's leg").
Chariot (車/车)	Any number of points horizontally or vertically. The strongest piece — like the rook in chess.
Cannon (炮/砲)	Moves like the Chariot, but captures by jumping over exactly one piece in between — the "screen". Unique to Xiangqi.
Soldier (兵/卒)	One point forward. After crossing the river it may also move sideways; it never retreats.

Getting started in four steps

1. Skim the ten-minute how-to-play guide — board, pieces, check, and checkmate in plain English.
2. Play Play vs Computer on the easy level until checkmating feels natural.
3. Solve the first endgame trials — a handful a day noticeably sharpens your mating technique.
4. Go live: join an online duel or send a friend a private challenge link.

Tips for beginners

• Bring your Horses and Chariots out early; pieces that stay on their starting points do nothing.
• Keep at least one Advisor and one Elephant at home — they are the General's shield against sudden checks.
• Beware the Cannon: whenever an enemy Cannon faces your General with one screen piece in between, you are in check.
• Use the flying-general rule as a weapon — lining up your General with the enemy General can freeze their defenders.
• Crossing the river upgrades your Soldiers; a well-timed Soldier advance is a common winning motif.

Common questions

Is it really free?

Yes. All modes are free, there are no ads, and support is entirely voluntary.

Do I need to download or install anything?

No. It runs in the browser; installing to the home screen is optional.

Can I play with a friend in another city?

Yes — use Challenge a Friend and send the private link; the game starts the moment your friend opens it.

I'm a beginner. Where do I start?

Read the ten-minute guide, then try the easy AI level and the first endgame trials.

Does it work on mobile?

Yes, the layout adapts to phones and tablets, and installation adds an app icon.

How strong is the computer opponent?

The AI has five strength levels, from a gentle easy mode for learning the moves up to a grandmaster level that searches deeply and punishes careless play.

Can I play offline?

Yes. After installing to the home screen, the AI mode and the local duel work without a connection; online play obviously needs the internet.

Do I need an account to play online?

You can jump into an online match instantly as a guest. A free account saves your rating on the server, so your score follows you between phone and computer.

What stops games from ending in boring draws?

Anti-draw rules keep games decisive: endless shuffling and perpetual-check repetition are forbidden, and long stretches without captures are scored as a draw settlement rather than an endless chase.

Learn more: Xiangqi vs international chess · Play with friends · Endgame puzzles · About Xiangqi · About us