Banqi: Chinese Dark Chess

Banqi is Chinese dark chess, also called half chess: all the Xiangqi pieces go face down on half a board, and every turn you either flip one over or make a move. It's quick, a little lucky and surprisingly sharp. This Banqi plays fully offline, with no sign-up.

The ranks run general, advisor, elephant, chariot, horse, cannon, soldier, and a piece takes anything of its own rank or lower. But the humble soldier can take the general, and the cannon only captures by jumping over exactly one piece, so it can reach the general too. Capture every enemy piece to win.

HOW YOU PLAY
• Against the computer on Easy, Normal or Hard. Hard weighs the odds of every face-down piece, sets traps, hunts and runs.
• Two players on one phone, taking turns.
• Tap a piece to see where it can move and what it can capture, so your first game of Banqi is easy to pick up.

MADE FOR EVERY DAY
• Plays offline, on the train, in a queue or with no signal.
• Saves your game automatically: close it and carry on later.
• Keeps your record of wins, losses and draws for each level.
• Round wooden pieces with flip and capture animations and wooden click sounds.
• Small download.
• English and Traditional Chinese.

RULES YOUR WAY
• Clear rules built into the game.
• Two popular house rules to switch on or off: chariot rush, and whether the cannon can capture anything.
• Draws: 50 moves without a capture or a flip, or the same position three times.

TELL US WHAT TO IMPROVE
There's a feedback form right in the game. Found a bug or have an idea? Write to us; we read every message.

Free to play, with ads. If you grew up with Chinese chess, or just like a quick game of wits, give Banqi a try.