Most people who play xiangqi online today do it on a phone: on the bus, in a queue, during a lunch break, on the sofa. This site is built for that. The board fills the width of the screen, moves are made with taps, and you can add the site to your home screen so it opens like an app. Here is how to get the most out of playing on a phone.
Making moves
There are two taps to every move:
- Tap one of your pieces. It is highlighted, and every point it can legally move to is marked. A small green dot means an empty point; a green ring means a capture.
- Tap the destination point. The move is made.
To change your mind before the second tap, tap the same piece again to deselect it, or tap a different piece of yours.
Because only legal moves are marked, you cannot accidentally break a rule: a horse with a blocked leg, an elephant with a blocked eye, a cannon without a screen or a general trying to face the other general simply have no marks on those points. For beginners this is one of the fastest ways to learn the rules.
Board size and orientation
The board scales to the width of your screen, and the site works best held upright. The pieces are drawn large enough to tap comfortably. If you are Black, the board is automatically turned so your pieces are at the bottom; the Flip button turns it the other way if you want to see the position from your opponent's side.
Adding the site to your home screen
You can add this site to your home screen so it opens full-screen, without the browser's address bar, just like an app:
- On an iPhone (Safari): tap the Share button, then Add to Home Screen.
- On Android (Chrome): open the browser menu, then choose Add to Home screen or Install app.
The icon opens the board directly, ready to play. There is nothing to download from an app store, and nothing to update — you always get the latest version when you open it.
Games against the computer on a phone
On the home board, you can start a game against the computer by tapping one of your red pieces, or choose Red or Black and a level first. An unfinished game is kept on your phone, so you can close the browser, answer a message and come back to the same position later. The Leave game button ends the game without counting it as a loss.
Online games on a phone
Online games on /online work the same way, with a few phone-specific things to know:
Your connection
Phones drop connections more than computers do. If that happens during an online game, reopen the page — you are put back into the same game. You have 60 seconds to return, and your clock keeps running while you are away.
On unreliable connections — trains, lifts, weak signal — choose a slower time control like 10+5 or 15+10. A ten-second drop in a 1+0 game can cost you the game on time; in a 15+10 game it hardly matters.
Notifications and switching apps
If you switch to another app during an online game, your clock keeps running. Some phones pause web pages in the background, which can look like a disconnection. Try not to leave an online game in the middle; if you must, come back quickly.
Sharing invite links
When you invite a friend, the Share button opens your phone's own share menu, so you can send the link through whatever messaging app you use.
Saving battery and data
A game of xiangqi uses very little data: the board is drawn on your phone, and only the moves travel over the network. Playing the computer uses your phone's processor for a few seconds per move at higher levels; on older phones, lower levels respond faster.
Comfort tips
- Turn off auto-rotate if the screen keeps flipping when you tilt the phone.
- Use slower time controls when you are walking or on the move. Mis-taps happen.
- Double-check before the second tap in fast games. Most phone blunders are tapping the wrong point, not choosing the wrong move.
- Play longer games on a bigger screen if you have one. A tablet or computer gives you a calmer view of the whole board.
Your games, on any device
If you sign in with your email at your account, your saved games follow you: open the site on another device, sign in, and your game list is there. See review your xiangqi games.
Accessibility and comfort
Everyone plays differently on a phone, and a few adjustments help:
- Zoom. The board scales with the screen width. If pieces feel small, try holding the phone upright and closing other browser bars by adding the site to your home screen.
- Sound. Moves make a short, quiet sound. If you play in a quiet place, turn your phone to silent.
- Holding the phone. Many players find it easiest to hold the phone in one hand and tap with the thumb of the other. In fast games, resting the phone on a table reduces mis-taps.
- Breaks. Playing several fast games in a row on a small screen is tiring for the eyes. A short break between games keeps your play sharper.
Phone or computer: which is better?
Both work well, and your saved games follow you between them when you are signed in. As a rough guide:
- Phone: perfect for short games, playing the computer during spare moments, and invite games with friends.
- Computer or tablet: better for long games, careful review of your saved games, and reading the articles on this site alongside a game.
Many players use both: quick games on the phone during the day, and reviewing those games on a bigger screen in the evening.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a xiangqi app to download?
You don't need one. Add the site to your home screen and it opens like an app, without any download.
How do I move a piece on a phone?
Tap your piece, then tap one of the highlighted points.
What happens if my phone loses connection during an online game?
Reopen the page within 60 seconds and you return to the same game. Your clock keeps running meanwhile.
Does playing use a lot of data?
No. Only the moves are sent over the network.
Can I continue a game against the computer later?
Yes. An unfinished game against the computer is kept on your phone until you finish it or leave it.
