Janggi Rules — Quick Reference
This is the short version of the janggi rules, written to be scanned during a game. If you are learning from scratch, start with the beginner guide instead. These are exactly the rules the Janggi Club engine enforces.
Board
- 9 files × 10 ranks; pieces on intersections.
- No river.
- Two palaces (3 × 3 points each) with diagonals from the corners to the centre. Diagonals exist nowhere else.
- Cho (green/blue) moves first; Han (red) moves second and gets 1.5 bonus points.
Setup
- Back rank, outside in: chariot, then horse and elephant in the order the player chose, then advisor; the general in the palace centre.
- Cannons on the third rank, files 2 and 8.
- Soldiers on the fourth rank, files 1, 3, 5, 7, 9.
- Four legal horse–elephant arrangements: 마상마상, 상마상마, 마상상마, 상마마상.
Moves
| Piece | Move | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General | One step along any line in the palace | Never leaves the palace |
| Advisor | One step along any line in the palace | Never leaves the palace |
| Chariot | Any distance along a straight line | Also along palace diagonals |
| Horse | One straight, then one diagonal outward | Blocked if the straight step is occupied |
| Elephant | One straight, then two diagonal outward | Both intermediate points must be empty; may cross the board |
| Cannon | Along a line, jumping exactly one piece | Never jumps a cannon, never captures a cannon; may jump along palace diagonals |
| Soldier | One step forward or sideways | Never backward; forward diagonals inside the enemy palace |
Check and the end of the game
- You may not leave or place your general in check.
- Checkmate wins.
- A player not in check may pass. A player with no legal move who is not in check: draw (no stalemate loss).
- Three consecutive checks that repeat the position: the checking player loses.
- Any other threefold repetition: decided on points.
- Bikjang: when a move leaves the generals facing each other on an open line and the opponent does not resolve it on the next move, the game is decided on points.
- Resigning is a loss.
Points
- Chariot 13 · Cannon 7 · Horse 5 · Elephant 3 · Advisor 3 · Soldier 2 · General 0.
- Han adds 1.5.
- Higher total wins; used after an accepted bikjang and after non-perpetual repetition.
Questions
Can a cannon capture a cannon?
No. In janggi a cannon can neither jump over another cannon nor capture one.
Can the elephant cross the middle of the board?
Yes. There is no river in janggi, so the elephant can reach any part of the board as long as its path is clear.
What happens on a threefold repetition?
If it was caused by three consecutive checks, the checking side loses. Otherwise the game is scored on points.
Updated 2026-09-25. Rules as played by the Janggi Club engine.