Each side has five soldiers (Tốt or Binh in Vietnamese, 兵 / 卒). At the start of the game they look like the least important pieces on the board, and in a sense they are: slow, unable to retreat, easy targets. Yet many endgames are won by a single soldier that crossed the river at the right moment. Understanding when a soldier is weak and when it becomes dangerous is essential.
How soldiers move
- Before crossing the river: one point forward only.
- After crossing the river: one point forward or sideways (left or right).
- Never backward.
- Soldiers capture the same way they move.
- There is no promotion. A soldier that reaches the last rank stays a soldier.
That last point is the biggest difference from chess. In chess the whole plan of a pawn is to reach the end. In xiangqi the end is almost the worst place for it.
Why soldiers matter in the opening
At the start, soldiers stand on alternating points of the fourth line. They:
- Block horse legs of the enemy — and yours. Moving the soldier in front of a horse's path frees the horse.
- Open files for chariots when they advance or are exchanged.
- Serve as screens for cannons.
The move P7+1 (or P3+1) as Red's first move is the Pawn opening, "the immortal points the way". It frees the horse on that side and asks Black a question without committing much. See the Pawn opening.
Crossing the river: the soldier changes
Once a soldier crosses the river, it can move sideways. Suddenly it controls three points instead of one, and it can approach the enemy palace from different angles. A crossed soldier is usually counted as about twice as valuable as one at home.
Good crossed soldiers:
- stand one or two ranks in front of the enemy palace,
- are supported by a chariot, horse or cannon,
- attack the points next to the palace or restrict the general.
The "old soldier" problem
A soldier on the last rank can only move sideways along it. It no longer threatens the palace from the front and often cannot even reach the palace points it needs. Players call it an old soldier, and it is much weaker than a soldier one or two ranks higher.
The practical rule: stop your soldier before it becomes old. Its best spot is usually the rank just in front of the palace or the rank level with the palace's front row. From there it attacks points inside the palace and cooperates with other pieces.
Soldiers in the endgame
In many endgames, a soldier is what separates a draw from a win:
- Chariot plus soldier against a chariot with defenders is often winnable when a plain chariot-against-chariot would be drawn.
- Horse plus soldier or cannon plus soldier can beat a defender missing some advisors or elephants.
- Two or three crossed soldiers working together can break a palace even without heavy pieces.
The endgame technique is usually the same: bring the soldier close to the palace, use it to take away the general's points, and let another piece deliver the finish.
Defending against soldiers
- Stop them before the river. A soldier at home is easy to attack with chariots and cannons.
- Use elephants. Elephants control the points in front of the palace where soldiers want to land.
- Keep your general mobile. A soldier next to the palace often attacks the general's escape points; having a spare move available can save you.
Soldier structure in the opening
Advancing the center soldier early is risky because it becomes the target of the enemy central cannon. Advancing the soldiers on files 3 and 7 is common because it opens your horses. The edge soldiers on files 1 and 9 matter less early but can become useful passers in the endgame, since they are far from the enemy pieces.
Common soldier mistakes
Pushing soldiers for no reason. Every soldier move is permanent. A soldier that advances without a plan can leave a horse leg unprotected or a file open for enemy chariots.
Rushing to the last rank. An old soldier is weak. Stop one step earlier.
Trading away all soldiers before the endgame. Soldiers are often the extra material that wins an ending. Keep at least one that can cross.
Ignoring enemy crossed soldiers. A soldier near your palace looks harmless until it takes away your general's last escape point.
A practice exercise
Play the computer on the home page and aim to get one soldier across the river safely by move 20, supported by another piece. Then try to use it, together with a chariot or horse, to restrict the enemy general. You will quickly see why strong players value crossed soldiers so highly. More piece guides are in the pieces section.
Soldiers and cannons: screens on demand
Soldiers are the pieces most often used as screens, because they stand on predictable points and move slowly. That cuts both ways.
- Your soldiers as your screens. A soldier on the center file gives your central cannon a screen toward the enemy center. When the enemy center soldier stands in line, your cannon threatens it at once.
- Your soldiers as enemy screens. If an enemy cannon points at your palace through one of your soldiers, that soldier is effectively pinned. Moving it could give the cannon a clear line, or turn another piece into the screen.
A quick habit: when you move a soldier, look along its file and its new rank for cannons of both colors.
Soldiers in the park
In casual games you will see a very common pattern: one player pushes several soldiers across the river early, hoping to swarm the palace. Against careless defense it works. Against organized defense it usually fails, because home chariots and cannons pick off the soldiers one by one, and each lost soldier is a permanent loss. Try it against the computer once, then try the opposite — develop first, advance soldiers later — and compare.
Frequently asked questions
Do soldiers promote in xiangqi?
No. A soldier that reaches the last rank stays a soldier and can only move sideways.
When can a soldier move sideways?
Only after it has crossed the river into the enemy's half.
Can a soldier move backward?
Never.
How much is a soldier worth?
A common rough guide counts it as one unit before the river and about two after crossing, compared with around nine for a chariot. Position matters more than numbers.
Which soldier should I advance first?
Usually the soldier on file 3 or 7, because it frees the horse behind it. The center soldier is best left alone early, since it is the target of the enemy central cannon.
