xiangqi.com
Play Chinese chess online for free at Xiangqi.com. Learn how to play Xiangqi, practice against a computer or challenge your friends in a multiplayer game.
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Related questions
More questions →How to Use Ahrefs for Your First SEO Audit: A Step-by-Step Tutorial
If you're new to Ahrefs and want to run your first SEO audit, the fastest path is: open Site Explorer, enter your target URL, review the Overview for a health snapshot, then dig into Organic Keywords, Top Pages, and Site Audit to find specific problems. From there, build a short prioritized to-do list instead of trying to fix everything at once.
This tutorial walks through that workflow using a realistic starting scenario, explains what the numbers mean, and shows how to turn findings into actions.
Before You Start: Pick a Narrow Scope
A common beginner mistake is auditing an entire large website on day one. The reports become overwhelming, and you can't tell which issues matter.
Instead, choose one of these starting points:
- A single important page (your homepage or a key product/service page)
- A small site (under ~50 pages, e.g., a personal blog or small business site)
- One section of a bigger site (e.g.,
/blog/)
For this tutorial, assume you're auditing a small business site with about 30 pages. The same steps scale up later.
You'll need an Ahrefs account to follow along. Ahrefs offers paid plans, and pricing and feature limits change over time, so check the current Pricing page for what's included in each tier before committing.
Step 1: Enter Your Target in Site Explorer
Site Explorer is Ahrefs' core tool for analyzing any website or URL.
- Open Site Explorer from the top navigation.
- In the search box, paste your domain (e.g.,
example.com). - Choose the Exact URL or Domain mode depending on scope. For a full-site view, use Domain or Prefix; for a single page, use Exact URL.
- Press Enter.
You'll land on the Overview report. Don't try to absorb everything — focus on four numbers first.
Reading the Overview Snapshot
| Metric | What it tells you | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Ahrefs Rank (AR) | Relative strength of the site's backlink profile vs. others in the database | Useful for comparing against competitors, not as a standalone goal |
| Organic traffic | Estimated monthly visits from search | A rough trend indicator, not exact analytics |
| Organic keywords | Estimated number of keywords the site ranks for | Shows breadth of visibility |
| Backlinks / Referring domains | Total links and unique sites linking to you | Referring domains matter more than raw backlink count |
Important caveat: Ahrefs' traffic and keyword numbers are estimates based on its own data. They won't match Google Search Console or your analytics exactly. Treat them as directional, not absolute.
Step 2: See What You Already Rank For
Go to Organic Keywords in the left sidebar. This shows queries where your site appears in search results.
Sort by Traffic (descending) to see which pages bring the most estimated visitors. Then look for:
- Keywords ranking in positions 4–15 — these are often the easiest wins. A small content or on-page improvement can push them onto page one.
- Keywords with high volume but low position — potential opportunities if the topic is relevant.
- Irrelevant keywords — if you rank for something off-topic, it may signal thin or mismatched content.
Write down 5–10 of the position 4–15 keywords. These become your first optimization targets.
Step 3: Find Your Best and Weakest Pages
Open Top Pages. This ranks your URLs by estimated organic traffic.
Look for two things:
- Your top performers — understand what topics and formats work. Can you create more content like this?
- Pages with traffic but poor rankings — these may need on-page fixes (title, headings, internal links).
If a page gets zero traffic and targets a topic you care about, it's a candidate for a rewrite or consolidation.
Step 4: Run a Technical Site Audit
Now move to Site Audit. This crawls your site and flags technical and on-page issues.
- Click Site Audit → New project.
- Enter your domain and set crawl settings (default is usually fine for a small site).
- Start the crawl and wait for it to finish.
Once complete, you'll see a Health Score and a list of issues grouped by category.
Which Issues to Fix First
Not all issues are equal. Prioritize in this order:
| Priority | Issue type | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Broken links (404s) | Bad for users and crawl efficiency |
| 2 | Pages blocked from indexing | They can't rank at all |
| 3 | Missing or duplicate title tags | Directly affects click-through and relevance |
| 4 | Slow-loading pages | Affects experience and rankings |
| 5 | Thin content | Low value to users and search engines |
Ignore low-impact warnings (like minor meta description length) until the big items are handled.
Step 5: Turn Findings Into a To-Do List
You now have raw data. Convert it into a short, actionable list. Example:
- Fix 3 broken links found in Site Audit.
- Rewrite title tags on 5 pages with duplicate titles.
- Improve 4 pages ranking in positions 6–12 by adding missing subtopics and internal links.
- Remove or update 2 thin pages with no traffic.
Keep the list to 5–10 items max for your first audit. Finishing a short list beats starting a long one.
Common Beginner Mistakes
- Chasing every red flag. Site Audit flags many minor issues. Fix what affects rankings and users first.
- Trusting estimates as exact numbers. Ahrefs data is modeled, not measured from your analytics.
- Auditing a huge site too early. Start small to learn the interface.
- Ignoring search intent. A page can be technically perfect but still fail if it doesn't match what searchers want.
- Forgetting to re-crawl. After fixes, run Site Audit again to confirm improvements.
Where to Go Next
Once your first audit is done:
- Compare with competitors using Site Explorer's Competing Domains and Content Gap reports.
- Track keyword rankings over time with Rank Tracker.
- Explore backlink opportunities in the Backlinks and Link Intersect reports.
- Set up recurring Site Audit crawls so new issues surface automatically.
Your first audit isn't about perfection — it's about building a repeatable habit: enter a target, read the key reports, pick the highest-impact fixes, and act. Do that once a month and your site's health compounds.
How Xiangqi.com’s Computer Levels Help Beginners Improve
Xiangqi.com’s Play Computer feature offers five difficulty levels, and the Level 1 computer is specifically positioned as a beginner’s companion for getting familiar with Chinese chess. The practical progression is straightforward: start at Level 1 until you can beat it consistently, then move up one level at a time to build the skills you need for multiplayer games. This guide explains what each part of that path involves and how to use it without wasting time.
What the five levels are for
The site describes the computer mode as preparation for multiplayer Xiangqi matches. Level 1 is the entry point for beginners learning the board and basic moves. Beating Level 1 is the stated signal to try the next level. From there, the same loop applies: play, win, advance.
The levels are not described individually beyond Level 1, so treat the higher levels as a ladder rather than a set of labelled skill tiers. Your job is to find the level where you win some games but still lose to clear mistakes, and stay there until those mistakes disappear.
A beginner routine that uses the levels well
- Learn the board first. Xiangqi is played on nine columns (files) and ten rows (ranks), with pieces placed on the intersections. If the piece movements are still fuzzy, read the site’s How to Play page before touching the computer.
- Play Level 1 until wins are routine. The goal is not a single lucky win. You want to reach the point where you can beat Level 1 without losing pieces to obvious blunders.
- Move up one level. Challenge the next level and expect to lose more often at first. That is the point—each loss shows a habit to fix.
- Review before advancing again. After games, use the engine analysis feature to review what went wrong. The site offers this for finished games, and it is the fastest way to turn a loss into a lesson.
- Return to multiplayer when you can hold your own. The computer is preparation, not the destination. Once you are comfortable at a level or two above your starting point, join a 2-player game.
Using puzzles alongside computer games
The site also provides free Chinese chess puzzles for tactics practice, and players can create and name their own puzzles to share. A useful split is to use computer games for full-game decision-making and puzzles for short tactical patterns. If you keep losing material in computer games, puzzles are the more targeted fix.
What else is available once you are ready for real opponents
Multiplayer on Xiangqi.com lets you create or join 2-player games, with options for sides, game timers, increments, and move timers; untimed games are also supported. Rated games adjust your rating using the ELO system. The site also runs free online tournaments with a Swiss system every week, which is a natural next step after computer practice.
Common sticking points
- Winning once is not the signal to advance. The site frames Level 1 as something you beat to build familiarity. Advance when wins are repeatable, not accidental.
- Skipping review. Engine analysis is available after games; skipping it turns practice into repetition rather than improvement.
- Staying on the computer too long. The stated purpose of the levels is to prepare you for multiplayer. Set a point—such as beating Level 1 consistently—to start playing people.
- Ignoring puzzles. If your losses come from short tactical oversights, full games alone may not fix them quickly.
The core answer: use Level 1 to learn the game, climb one level at a time only after consistent wins, review each stage with engine analysis, and supplement with puzzles before moving to multiplayer and weekly tournaments.
What Is Xiangqi.com and What Can You Do on It for Free?
Xiangqi.com is a free online Chinese chess (xiangqi) platform where you can play against other people or a computer, solve puzzles, join weekly online tournaments, and review your games with engine analysis. It suits beginners learning the rules, casual players who want a quick untimed game, and competitive players who want rated matches and a ranking. The site describes all of these features as free; no paid tier is mentioned in the available information.
What the site offers
The homepage presents Chinese chess as a game played for hundreds of years and still one of the most popular board games in the world, common in Chinatown neighborhoods across the world. The site is built around four main activities, each with its own section.
Play online against another player
You can create a two-player game or join one that someone else has created. When creating a game, the host can choose:
- Which side each player takes
- Game timers and increments
- Move timers
- An untimed format, if you just want to play without a clock
After a game, the engine analysis feature lets you review and analyze it to improve.
Play against the computer
The Play Computer feature has 5 difficulty levels. Level 1 is described as a good companion for beginners getting familiar with the game; once you can beat it, you move up a level. This is a practical way to prepare for multiplayer games without the pressure of a live opponent.
Solve and create puzzles
The site provides numerous free Chinese chess puzzles for practicing tactics. There is also a Create Puzzles feature: you can design your own puzzle, name it, and share it with other players.
Join weekly tournaments
Xiangqi.com holds free online tournaments using the Swiss system every week. The homepage links to a page where you can check the schedule and participate.
How ratings work
Rated two-player games on Xiangqi.com adjust your rating using the ELO rating system after each game. According to the site, when a player's rating reaches the top 20 across the whole platform, that player is recognized on the leaderboard. If you prefer not to affect a rating, note that the site distinguishes rated games from other formats such as untimed casual games and computer practice.
Learning the rules before you play
If you have never played, the site's How to Play section explains the basics: the board has nine columns (files) and ten rows (ranks), and the traditional pieces are wooden disks marked with red or black Chinese characters, placed on the intersections (vertices) rather than inside squares. A dedicated How To Play Xiangqi page covers each piece and the detailed rules used on the site. Reading that first is the fastest way to avoid illegal moves in your first game.
A sensible first session
- Read the How to Play page to learn piece movement and board layout.
- Play a few games against the Level 1 computer to get comfortable with the interface and basic tactics.
- Try a handful of puzzles to practice recognizing tactical patterns.
- Create or join an untimed two-player game if you want a low-pressure human opponent, or a timed rated game if you want your ELO rating to count.
- Review the game with engine analysis afterward, then check the tournament page if you want a weekly competitive goal.
The main things to keep in mind: the site is English-language, the free features cover play, puzzles, tournaments, and analysis, and the competitive track runs on ELO ratings, so casual and rated games serve different purposes.
How Ratings, Rankings, and Weekly Tournaments Work on Xiangqi.com
Xiangqi.com adjusts your rating using the ELO system after each rated 2-player online game, and the platform highlights players whose rating reaches the top 20 across the whole platform. Separately, the site runs free online tournaments in a Swiss system every week that you can join. These three features — rating, ranking, and tournaments — are distinct: rating changes come from rated games, ranking is a platform-wide standing, and tournaments are scheduled events you enter.
Rating: How Your Score Changes
Ratings on Xiangqi.com apply to rated 2-player online games. After you finish such a game, your rating is adjusted according to the ELO rating system.
- Input: a completed rated online game against another player.
- Action: the platform calculates the result under ELO.
- Expected result: your rating moves up or down based on that game.
Two practical points follow from the page evidence:
- The rating adjustment is described for 2-player rated games, so treat unrated or casual formats as separate from your rating.
- ELO is a relative system: your gain or loss depends on the rating of the opponent you faced, not just on whether you won.
The site does not publish the specific K-factor or the exact formula it uses, so don't assume a fixed number of points per win.
Ranking: What the Top 20 Means
When a player's rating reaches the top 20 across the whole platform, that standing is the ranking signal described on the site. In practice:
- Ranking is driven by rating, so it reflects sustained rated play rather than a single result.
- The page describes the top-20 threshold but does not detail how ties are broken or how often the leaderboard refreshes. Check the live site for the current standings rather than relying on assumptions.
Weekly Tournaments: Format and Entry
Xiangqi.com holds free online Chinese chess tournaments every week using the Swiss system, and the site invites players to check them out and participate.
| Feature | What the site states |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Every week |
| Format | Swiss system |
| Cost to enter | Free |
| How to join | Follow the tournament link on the site to view and participate |
A Swiss-system event pairs players with similar scores each round rather than eliminating anyone after a loss, so you typically play several rounds regardless of early results. The page does not specify round counts, time controls, or start times — confirm those on the tournament page before committing.
How the Pieces Fit Together
A sensible way to use the platform:
- Practice first. Use the Play Computer feature, which offers 5 difficulty levels, to get comfortable before rated play. Level 1 is described as a good starting point for beginners.
- Play rated 2-player games. Each completed rated game adjusts your ELO rating.
- Review and improve. After a game, use the engine analysis feature to analyze and review it.
- Enter the weekly Swiss tournament for scheduled competitive play.
- Track your standing. Reaching the top 20 platform-wide is the ranking milestone the site describes.
Common Questions and Caveats
- Does every game affect my rating? The site ties rating adjustment to rated 2-player games. Untimed games are supported on the platform, but the page does not state whether untimed games are rated — check the game-creation options.
- Can I see the exact formula? No formula or K-factor is published; only that ELO is used.
- Are tournaments the same as rated games? The page describes weekly Swiss tournaments separately from the rated 2-player rating system and does not state whether tournament games affect ELO. Verify on the tournament page.
- Is there a cost? The site describes the platform, puzzles, and weekly tournaments as free; no pricing or payment details appear in the provided material.
How to Play a 2-Player Chinese Chess Game Online on Xiangqi.com
You can play a two-player Chinese chess (xiangqi) game on Xiangqi.com by either creating a new game or joining one that another player has already created. When creating a game, you can choose your side (red or black), set timers, increments, and move timers, or opt for an untimed game. After the game, an engine analysis feature lets you review and learn from the moves. All of these features are described on the site as free to use.
Before You Start
- Know the board basics: Xiangqi is played on a board of nine columns (files) and ten rows (ranks), with pieces placed on the intersections (vertices). The traditional pieces are wooden disks marked with red or black Chinese characters.
- No account requirement is stated for play, but the site does track ratings for rated two-player games using the ELO system, so expect a rating to apply once you play rated games.
- Decide on your format: timed, untimed, or against the computer first if you are new.
Create a 2-Player Game
- Go to the Play Online 2 Player Chinese Chess Game section of Xiangqi.com.
- Start a new game. You will be able to choose:
- Your side — red or black.
- Game timer — the total time for the game.
- Increment — extra time added per move.
- Move timer — a limit on how long each individual move can take.
- Confirm the settings and create the game. The site will make the game available for another player to join.
- Wait for an opponent, or share the game so someone can join it.
Expected result: A live two-player game begins once an opponent joins, with the clock rules you selected enforced.
Untimed Games
If you prefer to play without pressure, Xiangqi.com also supports untimed two-player games. Choose this option when creating your game if you want to play casually without clocks.
Join an Existing Game
- Open the same Play Online 2 Player section.
- Browse the list of games created by other players.
- Join a game whose settings (side availability, timer, increment) suit you.
Expected result: You are seated in the opponent's game under their chosen time controls.
After the Game: Review with Engine Analysis
Once a game ends, use the engine analysis feature to go through the moves and see where play could improve. This is the site's stated way to build skills between matches.
Practice Options If You Are New
- Play Computer: Five difficulty levels are offered. Level 1 is described as suitable for beginners; move up a level once you can beat the current one.
- Puzzles: The site provides numerous free Chinese chess puzzles, and you can also create and name your own puzzles to share with other players.
- Weekly tournaments: Xiangqi.com holds free online tournaments using the Swiss system every week.
Ratings and Rankings
Rated two-player games adjust your rating under the ELO rating system after each game. The site notes that when a player's rating reaches the top 20 across the platform, they appear in the ranking — check the site for the current leaderboard details.
Common Snags
- No opponent joins your game: Try joining an existing open game instead of waiting, or use the Play Computer mode while you wait.
- You want a specific color: Set red or black when creating the game; if you join someone else's game, the available side is determined by their settings.
- You misjudge the clock settings: Increment and move timers are chosen at creation, so pick them carefully before starting a rated game.
Website Overview
Page metadata, canonical configuration and social previews work together to provide more consistent search and sharing presentation.
Domain and Registration
Unknown
DNS and Email
Nameservers are provided by Amazon Route 53, indicating managed DNS hosting. MX records point to the Google Workspace email service. SPF and DMARC are configured. DKIM status is unknown. TXT records include verification markers for Google. Such markers may also remain after a service stops being used. The lowest observed DNS TTL is 300 seconds.
TLS and Certificates
The public key uses EC with 256 bits. The server supplied a complete certificate chain. No organization name is present in the certificate; the available fields are consistent with domain validation. The certificate was issued by Let's Encrypt, commonly associated with automated certificate services. The certificate's total validity is about 89 days, consistent with a short renewal cycle.
HTTP and Browser Security
The response lacks these common security headers: CSP, Referrer-Policy, Permissions-Policy, clickjacking protection. No X-Powered-By header was found, reducing one common source of backend fingerprinting information. No obvious internal addresses or debug information were found in the headers. The Server header contains the custom value Squarespace. No explicit CDN or WAF marker was found in the response headers.
Technology Stack Analysis
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Search and Social Sharing
Twitter Card metadata is configured. JSON-LD includes Organization data, helping describe the organization as an entity. The page declares 5 language or regional alternatives using hreflang. The title has 40 characters, within a common display range. A meta description is present, with 154 characters.
Hosting and Email
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DNS records
| Type | Name | Value | TTL | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | xiangqi.com | 8.210.173.221 | 300 | — |
| MX | xiangqi.com | aspmx.l.google.com | 300 | 1 |
| MX | xiangqi.com | alt1.aspmx.l.google.com | 300 | 5 |
| MX | xiangqi.com | alt2.aspmx.l.google.com | 300 | 5 |
| MX | xiangqi.com | alt3.aspmx.l.google.com | 300 | 10 |
| MX | xiangqi.com | alt4.aspmx.l.google.com | 300 | 10 |
| NS | xiangqi.com | ns-1288.awsdns-33.org | 172800 | — |
| NS | xiangqi.com | ns-1608.awsdns-09.co.uk | 172800 | — |
| NS | xiangqi.com | ns-464.awsdns-58.com | 172800 | — |
| NS | xiangqi.com | ns-919.awsdns-50.net | 172800 | — |
| TXT | xiangqi.com | ca4fd1a0b22f0d4922a6089df4a7994c | 300 | — |
| TXT | xiangqi.com | google-site-verification=7-CuqQegg3bkjdc09DXwZluNm5rC_PkNmcEzFnN84Hs | 300 | — |
| TXT | xiangqi.com | google-site-verification=L0_H9ORhQrxgXhWqtDVrx_exQEyhXG5XXyO2E2OkldA | 300 | — |
| TXT | xiangqi.com | v=spf1 include:mailgun.org ~all | 300 | — |
| CNAME | www.xiangqi.com | xiangqi.com | 300 | — |
| DMARC | _dmarc.xiangqi.com | v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:[email protected]; | 300 | — |
TLS and certificates
HTTP response headers
| Header | Value |
|---|---|
| content-type | text/html;charset=utf-8 |
| server | Squarespace |
| strict-transport-security | max-age=15552000 |
| x-content-type-options | nosniff |
Identified technologies
Technology stack: Unknown
Pages, Search and Sharing
| Meta description | Play Chinese chess online for free at Xiangqi.com. Learn how to play Xiangqi, practice against a computer or challenge your friends in a multiplayer game. |
|---|---|
| Canonical URL | https://www.xiangqi.com/ |
| Language | English (default) · Multilingual |
| Twitter Card | summary_large_image |
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