Where Winds Meet Chess Guide: Every Match and How to Stop Losing Your Shirt
If you thought the combat was tough, wait until you try to navigate a board where horses can't jump and cannons need a meat shield to actually do their job.
I have spent way too many hours staring at these wooden tiles in Kaifeng City while trying to figure out why my Elephant is suddenly useless. The Chinese Chess mini-game in Where Winds Meet is a brutal departure from the Western version most of us grew up with. It is not about chasing a Queen across an open field. It is a tight, claustrophobic puzzle where the board is literally split by a river and your King is trapped in a tiny 3x3 box like a high-security prisoner. If you don't know the specific rules of Xiangqi, you are basically just handing over your Commerce Coins to every random NPC with a table.
Every Chess Match and Where to Find Them
The game features eleven distinct matches scattered across the world, ranging from simple 10-coin wagers to high-stakes betting matches that will gut your wallet if you aren't careful. Some of these are locked behind affection levels or the possession of a Chess Manual, which I found out the hard way after being turned away by half the experts in Moonveil Mountain. You really want to focus on the NPCs that offer unique "Affection Rewards" like antiques and special items, as these are much more valuable than the measly coin profit you get from a standard win.
Unlocking the Manual and Mastering the "Generals Facing" Rule
To even look at the high-tier players like Shen Liuniang, you need to unlock the Chess Manual. I managed this by grinding reputation with Wang Dayan at Heaven's Pier. You need to hit about 200 affection with him before he decides you aren't a complete waste of time and hands over the manual. Once you have it, you can take on the advanced matches that use traditional Chinese characters instead of the friendly icons. It is a fucking nightmare to memorize, but you can usually toggle the icons back on in the bottom right of the screen if you aren't a masochist.
The one rule that consistently ruins new players is the "Generals Facing" rule. You cannot move your General onto the same vertical line as the opponent's General if there are no pieces between them. If you do, or if you move the piece that was blocking that line of sight, you lose instantly. I have used this to trap AI Generals many times, effectively turning my King into a long-range weapon that limits their mobility. It is a dirty trick, but in a game where the board layout is randomized every time, you take every advantage you can get.
Piece Movement and the River Barrier
The board is split by the Chu Han Border, or "The River," and it changes how your pieces function. Soldiers can only move forward until they cross the river, at which point they can move sideways to start hunting. Elephants are purely defensive and can never cross the river, which makes them great for protecting your palace but useless for an offensive push. Horses are the biggest headache because unlike Western knights, they can be "blocked" if another piece is sitting on the first straight step of their L-move. This "Leg Rule" has cost me more matches than I care to admit.
Remember that you can also use the "V" key to inspect NPCs in the open world and challenge them for specific items in their inventory. They will almost always agree to wager the item on a game of chess. It is a much cleaner way to get what you want than threatening them or trying to steal it. Just make sure you have practiced your endgame positions first, because losing three times in a day will lock you out of re-challenging them until the next reset.
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