The horse in xiangqi
The horse is a strong attacking piece in xiangqi. It moves one point in a straight line, then one point diagonally outward. A piece on that first step blocks it, unlike the clean jump of a chess knight.
Updated 10 September 2026
How the horse moves
The horse first moves one point orthogonally, straight up, down, left, or right. Then it moves one point diagonally outward. From an open point the horse has eight landing points. The horse is not confined to the palace or to its own side. English players often call this piece the knight.
Hobbling the horse's leg
A piece next to the horse, on the first orthogonal step, blocks the move. Players call this hobbling the horse's leg, 蹩馬腿 in Chinese. The path from one point to another is not the same in reverse, so one horse can attack another horse that cannot attack back.
Tips for playing the horse
Place your horses where enemy pieces cannot hobble them. A horse near the centre controls more points than one in a corner. Watch for a single blocking piece that can shut down several of your horse's moves.
Questions and answers
How does the horse move in xiangqi?
The horse moves one point orthogonally, then one point diagonally outward. The two steps together form the same L shape as a chess knight's move. The difference is that a piece on the first step can block it.
Why is the horse different from a chess knight?
A piece next to the xiangqi horse can block it, while a chess knight always jumps cleanly. Players call this blocking rule hobbling the horse's leg. The rule changes how players plan an attack.
What is hobbling the horse's leg?
Hobbling means a piece sits on the horse's first orthogonal step and blocks the move. The Chinese term is 蹩馬腿. A hobbled horse loses some or all of its eight landing points.