A game against a real person is only worth playing if both people are really playing. Online, the other player is invisible, and it is easy to forget that someone is sitting on the other side of the board — often a beginner, often a child, sometimes a grandparent learning on a new phone. Fair play is what makes the whole thing work.
This article explains what fair play means in online xiangqi, why the most common form of cheating hurts the cheater most, and the small habits that make you an opponent people enjoy meeting.
What counts as cheating
The rule is simple: during a game, the moves must come from your own head. That means no:
- Engine help. Using a computer program to suggest moves during a game, whether on another device, another tab or another app.
- Outside help. Having a stronger friend tell you what to play.
- Opening books or databases during the game. Studying openings before or after is excellent; looking them up in the middle of a game is not.
- Playing on someone else's behalf in a way that misleads the opponent.
Between games, use every tool you like. Reviewing your games afterwards, studying patterns, reading about openings — that is how everyone improves.
Why using an engine hurts you most
It is tempting to think a little engine help is harmless. It isn't — and not only because it is unfair to your opponent.
- You learn nothing. The value of a game is the thinking you do. A move copied from an engine skips exactly the part that makes you better.
- The win is not yours. There are no ratings or rankings on this site, so there is nothing to gain except the satisfaction of winning — and a copied win does not give that.
- Your opponent loses a real game. Someone gave their time to play you. Replacing yourself with a program takes that away.
On this site, games are for playing, learning and having fun. There are no leaderboards and no public scores, so honest play is also the only kind of play that actually gives you something.
Good habits of an online opponent
Move at a reasonable pace
Online games have clocks, and you are entitled to use your time. But deliberately letting your clock run down in a lost position, just to make your opponent wait, is poor sportsmanship. If the position is hopeless, resign.
Resign rather than disappear
Closing the page in a lost position leaves your opponent waiting up to 60 seconds before the game is awarded to them. Use the Resign button, or the Leave button — after both players have moved, leaving counts as resigning and ends the game immediately.
Offer draws only when the position is balanced
Repeatedly offering draws in a losing position is annoying. Offer once, in a genuinely equal position, and accept the answer.
Don't use the first-move timer against people
On this site, a game is cancelled without result if the first move is not made within 45 seconds. That rule exists to keep abandoned games out of the queue. Waiting deliberately to cancel a game you don't like is not in its spirit.
Rematch graciously
If you win, offer a rematch — the colours swap automatically. If you lose, a rematch is a good chance to try again with the other colour.
Why there is no chat
There is no chat in online games on this site. That is a deliberate choice: many players here are children, and the only thing we want strangers exchanging is xiangqi moves. It also removes a whole category of unpleasant behaviour — trash talk, arguments, spam — that can spoil online games elsewhere.
If you play with friends through an invite link, you can talk to them on your usual messaging app alongside the game.
If you meet a bad opponent
Occasionally you will meet someone who stalls, disappears or plays suspiciously well. The best response is usually the simplest:
- Don't take it personally. Play your best moves and move on.
- Play a different time control. Slower games attract more patient players.
- Play friends by invite link. You can always choose your opponent.
Fair play with the computer
Playing the computer on the home board is a different matter: take-backs are allowed there, and you can use them to learn. Many players try a move, see the computer's answer, take it back and try something else. That is an excellent way to study — as long as the computer is your opponent and not your assistant in a game against a person.
Sportsmanship in the result screen
The moment right after a game is where sportsmanship is most visible. A few simple habits:
- After a win, don't rush away. Offering a rematch is the online equivalent of a handshake. Your opponent may decline, and that is fine.
- After a loss, take a breath before the next game. Playing straight away while frustrated is how losing streaks start. Replay the game from your account first; you will usually find one clear lesson.
- After a draw, think about why. Was it a fair draw, or did one side have chances? Draws are often the most instructive games to review.
Teaching fair play to children
Many younger players learn xiangqi online. If you are a parent or teacher, a few principles help:
- Make the game the goal, not the win. Praise good moves and good effort, whatever the result.
- Explain why engine help is empty. Children understand quickly that a win that isn't theirs doesn't feel like one.
- Use invite games for family matches. Playing a known opponent by link is the easiest way to keep a child's online games friendly and safe.
- Review games together. Looking at a game side by side turns losses into lessons and shows that mistakes are normal.
The absence of chat and public scores on this site is designed with exactly these players in mind.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheating to study openings?
No. Studying before or after games is encouraged. Only looking things up during a game counts as outside help.
Can I review my online games with an engine afterwards?
Yes. Analysing finished games is one of the best ways to improve.
Why is there no chat?
To keep the site safe for younger players and to keep games focused on the moves.
Are there ratings or leaderboards?
No. Games are for playing and learning. There are no public scores or rankings.
What should I do in a lost position?
Resign, or use Leave after both players have moved, which counts as resigning. Don't make your opponent wait out your clock.
