Janggi (Korean Chess)
Korean chess with palaces, jumping cannons and octagonal pieces.
How to play Janggi
Janggi is the chess of Korea. It is played on the points of a board of 9 lines by 10 lines, like Chinese Chess, but there is no river. Each side has a palace: the 3×3 box with an X drawn inside. The two sides are Cho (green) and Han (red). Cho moves first. Before the game you can choose where your horses and elephants stand with the Setup menu.
Goal
Checkmate the enemy general: attack it so that no move can save it.
How the pieces move
- General (K) and Guards (A): one point along any line of the palace, including the diagonal lines. They never leave the palace.
- Chariot (R): any distance in a straight line. Inside a palace it may also slide along the diagonal lines.
- Cannon (C): moves and captures only by jumping over exactly one piece. It can never jump over a cannon and can never capture a cannon. In a palace it may jump along a diagonal over the centre point.
- Horse (H): one point straight, then one point diagonally. It is blocked if the first point is taken.
- Elephant (E): one point straight, then two points diagonally. Both points it passes must be empty.
- Soldier (P): one point forward or sideways, never back. In the enemy palace it may also step forward along the diagonal lines.
Turn by turn
- Tap one of your pieces. Glowing dots show where it can go.
- Tap a dot to move. An enemy piece on that point is captured.
- You may not leave your general in check. If you are not in check, you may press Pass instead of moving.
Bikjang (facing generals)
Unlike Chinese Chess, the two generals may face each other on an open line. Doing so is called bikjang and offers a draw. The other player must block the line or move the general away, or press Accept draw to end the game as a draw.
End of the game
The game ends with checkmate, an accepted bikjang, or the same position three times (a draw). After 200 moves in total the game is decided on points: chariot 13, cannon 7, horse 5, elephant 3, guard 3, soldier 2. Han gets 1.5 extra points for moving second, so there are no ties. Press Pieces to show Hangul or Western letters instead of Chinese characters. You may also like Chinese Chess.
Strategy tips
- Cannons need screens. A cannon cannot move without a piece to jump over. Plan which piece will be its screen before you need it.
- Keep a cannon behind your general. Enemy cannons cannot jump over cannons, so a cannon in your palace is a great shield.
- Use the palace lines. A chariot in the enemy palace can attack along the diagonals. Many quick mates use this.
- Choose your setup. Inner elephants protect the middle; outer elephants free your horses. Try each and see what suits you.
- Count the points. In a long game the score decides. If you are ahead, trade pieces and keep your chariots safe.
- Bikjang when behind. If you are losing, facing the generals offers a draw. If you are ahead, block the line.
Janggi (Korean Chess) FAQ
How is Janggi different from Chinese Chess?
There is no river, so every piece can go anywhere except the generals and guards. The elephant makes a longer move, the cannon cannot touch other cannons, the generals may face each other, and you may pass your turn.
What happens with bikjang here?
This site uses a simple rule: when the generals face each other on an open line, the other player must break the line or accept a draw. The computer accepts only when it is not doing well.
Why does Han get 1.5 points?
Cho moves first, which is an advantage. If no one is checkmated after 200 moves, the points of the pieces left on the board decide, and Han's 1.5-point bonus makes up for moving second.
How strong is the computer?
Easy makes loose moves and is good for learning. Medium thinks for about a third of a second. Hard searches for close to a second and punishes most mistakes.
