Janggi rules at a glance
Pieces stand on the points where 9 vertical and 10 horizontal lines cross. Blue Cho moves first, red Han second, one move at a time. Your goal is checkmate: leave the enemy General with no escape. Before play each side chooses a setup for its Horses and Elephants, and the General and Guards never leave the palace marked with an X. New to Janggi? Open Learn Janggi on the play screen to try each piece step by step — tap a piece and its reachable points light up.
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FAQ
Who moves first, Cho or Han?
Han chooses its setup first, then Cho. Cho makes the first move of the game. Han, moving second, receives a 1.5-point bonus in a points decision.
Why can’t a Cannon jump over a Cannon?
That is simply the rule of Janggi: a Cannon can neither use another Cannon as its screen nor capture it. This is why placing your Cannon on an enemy Cannon’s line is a good defence.
What is bikjang?
The two Generals facing each other on the same file with nothing in between. By default on this site nothing happens and play continues; if the room uses the “score” rule, the game immediately goes to a points decision.
When should I pass?
You may pass whenever you are not in check — useful when every move would weaken your position. If both players pass in a row, the game ends with a points decision.
Why does Han get 1.5 points?
It compensates for Cho’s first-move advantage, and the half point means a points decision can never be tied.
Which setup should I choose?
There is no single best one. Horses guard compactly; Elephants leap far. Start with a symmetric H-E-E-H or E-H-H-E, and later choose in response to your opponent — on this site Cho sees Han’s setup before choosing.
How is Janggi different from chess and xiangqi?
Chess uses squares and promotes pawns. Xiangqi has a river, starts the General on the back row and forbids facing Generals. Janggi has no river, starts the General in the palace centre, and adds setup choice, passing and bikjang.
Can I play without signing in?
Yes — AI games, pass-and-play and the tutorial need no account. Online matches and rankings require a GameNow account.