How to play Xiangqi
Red moves first, and the goal is to checkmate the enemy general. The general (帥/將) and advisors (仕/士) stay inside the palace; advisors move one step diagonally. Elephants (相/象) move exactly two points diagonally, cannot cross the river, and are blocked if the point in between — the “elephant eye” — is occupied. Horses (傌/馬) move one step straight then one diagonally, and are blocked if the first point is occupied. Chariots (俥/車) move any distance in a straight line. Cannons (炮/砲) move like chariots but capture by jumping over exactly one piece. Soldiers (兵/卒) move one step forward, and once across the river they may also step sideways.
Special rules
The two generals may never face each other on the same file with nothing in between. A player with no legal move loses — even when not in check. Here, a position repeated three times, 60 moves without a capture, or a board where neither side has an attacking piece left counts as a draw (a simplified version of the official perpetual-check rules).
Computer levels and tips
Easy is a relaxed sparring partner, Normal looks a few moves ahead, and Hard searches as deep as it can in under a second — it thinks in the background so the page stays smooth. A classic opening is moving a cannon to the center file. Keep your chariots active early, and watch for horse and cannon forks. Undo takes back your last move, and wins, losses and draws are counted for each level.