The most fun you can have with xiangqi online is playing someone you know: a friend who taught you in a café in Hanoi, a cousin who lives abroad, a colleague who claims they never lose. On this site, getting a game with a specific person takes one link. Neither of you needs an account, and there is nothing to install.
How it works in five steps
- Open the online page and find the Invite a friend section.
- Choose a time control. Besides the usual options (1+0, 3+2, 5+3, 10+5, 15+10), invite games can be played with no clock at all.
- Choose your colour: Red, Black or random. Red moves first.
- Press Create invite link. A link appears, with buttons to copy it or share it directly through your phone's share menu.
- Send the link and keep the page open. As soon as your friend opens it, the board appears for both of you and the game begins.
If your friend is slow to arrive, you can cancel the invite at any time and create a new one later.
Why no clock is often the best choice
Clocks are great for competitive games, but between friends they are optional. Playing without a clock is ideal when:
- You are teaching. A beginner needs time to look at every piece, and you might want to explain things over a phone call while you play.
- You are playing across time zones and chatting on the side.
- You are trying a new opening and want to think it through.
If you prefer some pressure, 10+5 is a comfortable choice for friendly games: enough time to think, but the game will not drag on.
What your friend sees
When your friend opens the link, they land directly in the game. They do not need to sign up or give an email address. The board is oriented from their side, the move list is shown in WXF notation, and they can move by tapping a piece and then a highlighted point.
If they have never played before, it is worth sending them how to play xiangqi online first, or letting them try a game against the computer on the home board.
During the game
Invite games work exactly like other online games:
- You can offer a draw or resign at any time.
- You can flip the board to see it from the other side.
- There is no chat. If you want to talk, use your usual messaging app or a phone call alongside the game.
- If someone's connection drops, they have 60 seconds to reopen the page and return to the game.
Leaving and rematches
The Leave button is always available. Before both players have made a move, leaving cancels the game with no result. After that, it counts as resigning, and the site asks you to confirm.
When the game ends, either of you can ask for a rematch. If both agree, a new game starts straight away with colours swapped — perfect for a best-of-three evening.
Ideas for playing with friends and family
- A weekly game. Pick a day and play one game with the same friend every week. Over months, you will see how both of you improve.
- Teaching a child. Play without a clock, sit next to them or call them, and let them make the moves. Praise good ideas rather than results.
- Handicap games. If one player is much stronger, agree before the game that the stronger player will avoid certain openings or play only with a short thinking time. The site does not remove pieces for handicaps, but friendly self-imposed rules work well.
- Review together. If both of you are signed in, the finished game is saved in each account. Replay it together and talk through the key moments. See review your xiangqi games.
Privacy and safety
An invite link works for one game and one opponent. Once your friend has joined, nobody else can take the second seat: a third person opening the link is told the game is already full. Invite links that are never used expire after a while.
No names or messages are shown to either player — only the moves. That keeps invite games simple and safe, including for children playing with family.
When your friend can't make it
If the invite sits unused, you can always switch to Find an opponent and play someone at random with the same time control. And the computer on the home board is always available.
Playing across time zones
Friends and family abroad are one of the best reasons to use invite links. A few tips make long-distance games smoother:
- Agree on a time first. An invite link only starts a game when both players are on the page, so send a message before creating it.
- Use a voice call alongside. Since the site has no chat, a phone or video call lets you talk through the game, tease each other and celebrate good moves.
- Choose a clock that fits the call. No clock is best if you are chatting a lot; 10+5 keeps things moving if the call has to end at a set time.
- Expect the odd dropped connection. International connections occasionally hiccup. Reopening the page within 60 seconds puts you back in the game.
A simple way to run a small tournament
With invite links you can run a friendly tournament for a group of friends or a class:
- Make a list of pairings for each round.
- In each pairing, one player creates an invite link and sends it to the other.
- Play one game per pairing, then swap colours with a rematch.
- Record the results on paper or in a shared note.
It takes no special tools and works for any group size.
Frequently asked questions
Does my friend need an account?
No. Anyone who opens the link can play. An account is only needed to save games for later replay.
Can we play without a clock?
Yes. Invite games offer a no-clock option in addition to the usual time controls.
Can someone else use my link?
Only one person can join. Once the second seat is taken, anyone else who opens the link is told the game is full.
How do we play again after the game?
Press rematch. When both players ask for it, a new game starts with colours swapped.
Can we chat during the game?
Not on the site — there is no chat by design. Use your phone or messaging app alongside the game if you want to talk.
