Play Janggi Online vs AI
Learn the Palace, Then the Cannon
Janggi is related to xiangqi, but its board has no river. Cho moves first. Generals and guards stay in the palace, where they can follow the painted diagonals; cannons need a screen to move or capture. Pick an AI level and make the first move.
How a Game Begins
The board has nine files and ten ranks, with no river. Cho starts at the bottom and Han at the top. The general and guards stay inside their own palace, including its diagonals. Elephants move one step straight, then two diagonally, and can be blocked along the way. Cannons must jump exactly one non-cannon screen and cannot capture another cannon. Soldiers may move sideways from the opening, but never backward.
Two generals facing each other on an open file is legal. You do not need to memorize every piece before your first game. Start with a chariot, horse, or cannon and keep an eye on your general's escape squares. Afterwards, replay the moment a cannon line opened or a general was left on an open file.
No River, Generals in the Palace
The generals begin in the middle of their palaces, not on the back rank. Elephants stand outside the horses in the opening setup. With no river to cross, they can reach either half of the board, but their longer route gives opponents more chances to block them. Before lining up a chariot or cannon, check which palace diagonals are open.
Cannons Jump, Soldiers Slide
Unlike a xiangqi cannon, a Janggi cannon cannot travel down an empty file. It needs exactly one screen to move or capture, and that screen cannot be another cannon. Soldiers can move sideways from the start, so the center closes quickly. Facing generals is a legal threat that can force the other general off a file.
Hints Match Your AI Level
Choose from multiple AI levels. Play Cho and move first, or take Han and respond. Hints use the same level you selected, and undo removes both your move and the reply. When the game ends, replay the move that opened a cannon line or left your general exposed. The game calculates each move in your browser.
9×10board, no river
16pieces per side
Cannonmust jump a screen
Matetrap the opposing general
Frequently asked questions
Which janggi rules does this board use?
The board is 9×10 with no river, and Cho moves first. The general and guards stay inside their own palace and may also move along its marked diagonals. A cannon must jump exactly one piece to move or capture, and it can neither jump nor capture another cannon. Two generals facing each other on an open file is called bikjang, and it is legal here. You win by checkmate or by leaving your opponent with no legal move. After 120 consecutive moves without a capture, the game is drawn. Passing is not allowed.
How is this AI different from a typical web janggi opponent?
This site uses the open-source Fairy-Stockfish engine with a neural network trained for janggi, reading later variations in the browser. During the game the sidebar shows search depth, nodes, search speed, the evaluation, and the principal variation. A lot of web janggi only searches a little way ahead on material scores, or waits for a server to return the move; here you can watch the engine think. If the neural network fails to load, play switches to a lighter classic engine and the sidebar no longer shows the same search detail.
The squares in front of my cannon are empty. Why can't it move?
A cannon has to jump exactly one piece every time it moves, so an open line leaves it stuck. The screen can't be a cannon, and neither can the piece it captures. Move a soldier or a horse in front of it early on, and the cannon comes alive.
Do I have to give my cannon a screen on the first move?
No. This board doesn't require any particular first move. Because a cannon needs a screen, many players start by moving a soldier or a horse, but that is only one option. Checking whether the palace diagonals are open, then deciding which file your chariots and cannons should take, matters more than any fixed opening move.
How should I use hints, undo, and replay without just copying the answer?
Pick a move yourself first, and say whether it gives a cannon a screen, guards the palace, or answers a threat along a file. Then open the hint and compare. The hint follows your current AI level; it is not a stronger engine hiding behind the button. Against the AI, undo takes back the reply along with your own move. Replay is for finding the move where a cannon line opened or your general stepped onto an open file, not only for watching the final checkmate.
Can I play without an account or an app?
Yes. Open the page on a phone or computer and make a move. There is no account, email, or password. Adding the site to your home screen is optional, and a full game works without installing anything.
Can I choose to play Cho or Han?
Against the AI, yes. As Cho you move first; as Han the AI makes the opening move. Switching sides mid-game starts a new game, and the pieces already moved do not stay. In an online room you pick your side when you create it. Two players on one device do not choose sides: Cho moves first, and you take turns.
If I close the page, is this game still there?
Games against the AI and games on one shared device stay in this browser, so reopening the page usually lets you continue. Clearing this site's data usually removes them, and there is no account to recover them. Online rooms are not stored on your device; if the connection drops, opening the page again usually brings you back to the same room.
If I invite a friend online, can I undo and use hints the way I can here?
No. Once an online room accepts a move, it is sent to the other player. There is no hint and no undo, but you can offer a draw or resign. If the connection drops, opening the page again usually brings you back to the same room.
How is two players on one device different from playing the AI?
Two people share one device and take turns face to face. You do not need a network connection, and neither side gets a hint. Undo takes back one move at a time, and replay is still there, so you can stop and talk through a move. Cho moves first, and there is no side to choose.
