Playing against the computer is a great way to learn, but sooner or later you want a real person on the other side of the board. The online page of this site is built for exactly that: no account needed to start, no downloads, and a game can begin within seconds of opening the page. This guide explains how it works, from finding an opponent to what happens if your connection drops.
Getting started
Open the online page. You will see two ways to start a game:
- Find an opponent — you are paired at random with someone who is waiting for the same time control.
- Invite a friend — you create a link, send it to a friend, and the game starts as soon as they open it.
You do not need an account to play. If you want your games saved so you can replay them later, you can sign in with your email at your account — more on that below.
Finding an opponent
- Choose a time control. The options are 1+0, 3+2, 5+3, 10+5 and 15+10. The first number is the minutes each player starts with; the second is the seconds added after every move. See xiangqi time controls for help choosing.
- Press Find game. The page shows that you are searching. As soon as another player is waiting for the same time control, you are paired and the board appears.
- Colours are chosen at random. Red moves first.
If nobody is waiting, you can cancel at any time. When the site is quiet, the most reliable way to get a game is to invite someone you know.
Inviting a friend
- Choose a time control, including the option to play with no clock at all — useful for relaxed games or for teaching.
- Choose your colour: Red, Black or random.
- Press Create invite link. You get a link you can copy or share through any messaging app.
- Keep the page open. When your friend opens the link, the game starts for both of you.
If you change your mind, cancel the invite. See invite a friend to play xiangqi for tips.
During the game
- Moving. Tap one of your pieces, then tap one of the highlighted points. Only legal moves are allowed, so the horse leg, elephant eye and cannon screen rules are enforced for you.
- The clock. Each player's clock runs only on their own turn. The clocks start once both players have made their first move. To avoid abandoned games, the first move must be made within 45 seconds, or the game is cancelled without a result.
- Move list. Moves appear in WXF notation, such as C2=5 or H8+7.
- Offer a draw. You can offer a draw; your opponent can accept or decline. Making a move is also a way of declining.
- Resign. If the position is hopeless, resign rather than making your opponent wait.
- Flip the board. Useful if you want to see the position from the other side.
If your connection drops
Mobile connections drop, trains go into tunnels. If you lose connection, simply reopen the page — you are put back into the same game. You have 60 seconds to come back; your clock keeps running while you are away. After 60 seconds, the game is awarded to your opponent.
If it is your opponent who disconnects, you will see a message counting down the time they have left to return.
Leaving a game
There is always a Leave button. What it does depends on the moment:
- Before both players have made a move, leaving simply cancels the game. Nothing is recorded as a win or loss.
- After that, leaving counts as resigning. The site asks you to confirm first.
Please use it rather than just closing the page: it frees your opponent immediately.
After the game
When the game ends you see the result and the reason — checkmate, no legal moves, resignation, time, agreed draw, and so on. You can then:
- Rematch. If both players ask for a rematch, a new game starts with colours swapped.
- Find a new opponent with the same time control.
- Return to the lobby or look at the final position.
Saving your games
If you are signed in, every finished online game is saved to your account automatically, and you can replay it move by move. If you played without signing in, the site offers a link to sign in and save that game. See review your xiangqi games.
No chat, by design
There is no chat in online games. Many players on the site are children, so the only thing you exchange with a stranger is xiangqi moves. It also keeps games focused.
Your first online game: a short checklist
If you have never played xiangqi online before, a few preparations help:
- Know the rules well enough to play without help. Try a few games against the computer on the home board first.
- Pick a slower time control. 10+5 or 15+10 gives you time to think and to get used to the interface.
- Find a stable connection. Wi-Fi at home is better than a moving train.
- Play the opening simply. The central cannon (C2=5) as Red, and bringing out your horses as Black, gets you into a playable position without long thought.
- Count cannon screens every move. It is the single most common reason for losing pieces early on. See the cannon explained.
What the result reasons mean
When a game ends, the result screen gives a reason. Here is what each one means:
- Checkmate — a general was in check with no legal escape.
- No legal moves — one side had no legal move at all, which in xiangqi is also a loss.
- Resignation — one player resigned or left after both players had moved.
- Time ran out — a clock reached zero.
- A player left — a player disconnected for more than 60 seconds.
- Draw agreed, threefold repetition or no attacking pieces left — the ways a game is drawn here.
- Cancelled — the game ended before both players had made a move, and counts as nothing.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an account to play online?
No. You can play immediately. An account, created with just your email, is only needed if you want to save and replay your games.
Which time controls can I choose?
1+0, 3+2, 5+3, 10+5 and 15+10 when finding an opponent. Invite games can also be played with no clock.
What happens if I close the page by accident?
Reopen it within 60 seconds and you return to the same game. Your clock keeps running meanwhile.
Is leaving a game the same as resigning?
After both players have moved, yes. Before that, leaving cancels the game with no result.
Can I talk to my opponent?
No. There is no chat, on purpose, to keep the site safe for younger players.
