The rules to get you started
In brief
The board has 9 files and 10 ranks of intersections. Red moves first. Each side aims to put the opposing general in a position where no legal move allows that side to continue.
The board and the objective
The board has 9 files and 10 ranks of intersections. Red moves first. Each side aims to put the opposing general in a position where no legal move allows that side to continue.
Palace and river
The general moves one intersection horizontally or vertically within its palace. Advisors move diagonally within it. The elephant moves two intersections diagonally, without crossing the river; the intermediate point must be empty.
Chariot, horse, and cannon
The chariot slides in a straight line without passing through any piece. The horse takes one orthogonal step followed by one diagonal step; a piece on its first step blocks it. The cannon moves like the chariot but captures by jumping over exactly one screening piece.
Soldiers and generals
The soldier moves one intersection forward; after crossing the river, it can also move left or right, but never backward. The generals cannot face each other along an empty file.
Game endings and repetitions
Checkmate and having no legal moves cause the side to move to lose. In this simplified version, three repetitions result in a draw. The complex official rules on perpetual chasing are not implemented.
A situation to observe
In this teaching diagram, the red cannon on B3 is targeting a black piece on B8. A single screening piece occupies B5, and the other intersections between B3 and B8 are empty: the capture is possible.