
- BGG rank
- BGG #182
- BGG rating
- 7.8
War Chest
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2018

1981
Rules assistance for Chinese Chess
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

For 2 players
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Chinese Chess is a board game released in 1981 for 2 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. Its main mechanics are Grid Movement.
Despite its name, this game has nothing to do with Xiangqi, the *real* Chinese Chess. It does have original mechanics, though. BGG user chas59 states that the game was designed by Ron Dubrin of New York. The pieces start out filling the 6x6 board except for the central 2x2 area. Both players move both sets of pieces; the trick is that one player jumps same-coloured pieces whilst the other jumps different-coloured pieces. Jumped pieces are removed, and the object of the game is to capture 13 pieces. When you land on same/different-coloured square (there are 12 coloured squares, surrounding the central 2x2 area), you get to go again. Multiple jumps are possible. If you cannot jump, you slide, moving like a rook. Lastly, you cannot move a piece that's just been moved by the opponent.
Chinese Chess supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Chinese Chess is 20 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Chinese Chess for ages 8 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Chinese Chess has a complexity rating of 2.8 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Chinese Chess belongs to these categories: Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Grid Movement. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The catalogue lists Chinese Chess as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.