Chinese Chess: Dark Xiangqi

Chinese chess with a twist: every piece starts face-down, and when you flip it, it might switch to your opponent's side! A 2 player strategy board game you can play offline vs AI or online with friends. Learn in 1 minute.

Co Up (dark chess, also called Jieqi, flip chess or hidden chess) is a fun chess variant built on Xiangqi. It keeps the moves of classic Chinese chess but adds hidden pieces, surprise and a little luck. No two games are the same.

♟️ WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT
• All pieces start hidden. Only the two Generals are face-up, so nobody knows which piece is which, not even their own.
• A hidden piece moves like the piece whose starting square it stands on. After it moves, it flips over and shows what it really is.
• The twist: a flipped piece may belong to your opponent and instantly joins their side. Every flip is a gamble.
• Hidden pieces can be captured by anything. Revealed pieces capture by normal Xiangqi rules.
• Advisors and Elephants are free: Advisors roam diagonally across the whole board, and Elephants may cross the river.

🎮 GAME MODES
• Play vs the computer with 3 AI levels (Easy, Medium, Hard). Works offline, no internet needed, so it is also one of those 2 player games offline you can take anywhere.
• Local 2 player mode on one phone or tablet.
• Real-time online matchmaking: play Chinese chess online or Xiangqi online, there is always someone to play.
• Add friends and invite them to a match.

🎯 HOW TO WIN
Checkmate or capture the opponent's General. Lose your General and the game is over.

📖 THE PIECES (16 per side)
• General: 1 step up, down, left or right.
• Advisor: moves diagonally.
• Elephant: 2 steps diagonally.
• Horse: an L-shape move, can be blocked.
• Chariot: any distance in a straight line.
• Cannon: moves like the Chariot, captures by jumping over exactly 1 piece.
• Soldier: 1 step forward, and also sideways after crossing the river.
New to Chinese chess? The built-in tutorial (video and pictures) shows Chinese chess how to play step by step, so you can learn Chinese chess while you play.

⭐ FEATURES
• Seasonal ELO ranking with 8 tiers: Pawn, Advisor, Elephant, Horse, Cannon, Chariot, General, Chess King.
• Replay every game move by move.
• 5 piece styles: Jade & Ivory, Cast Bronze, Minimal, Flat Neo, Lacquer.
• Sound effects and music for flips, captures and check.
• Clean dark design that fits every screen.

WHY PLAY?
Love board games for 2 players, fun chess, chess variants, fog of war chess or games to play with friends? This Chinese chess game mixes real strategy with surprise, a 2 player strategy board game that also works as a quick party board game. Xiangqi fans get a fresh challenge, and beginners can win thanks to a lucky flip.

Game languages: English, Tiếng Việt, 简体中文, 繁體中文.

Recent changes:
Big update!
• Fresh new look with animations: flips, defections, captures, check
• 2 players: same phone, or one phone each — create a room and share the code/QR/link
• Rematch your friend right after a game, colours swap automatically
• Connection drops mid-game? Auto-reconnect keeps your seat, and you'll see when your opponent drops
• New profile: level, rank roadmap, friends, piece styles