Animal Chess (Jungle Chess) Rules: Dou Shou Qi Guide

October 2, 2026

Animal Chess — called Jungle or Jungle Chess in English and Dou Shou Qi (“the game of fighting animals”) in Chinese — is a traditional Chinese board game that children pick up in minutes and adults keep playing for years. Every animal simply steps one square at a time. The depth comes from the animal ranking, a river only some pieces can cross, and traps that turn a lion into prey. This guide covers the complete jungle chess rules as our free online version plays them, then the strategy that beats the computer.

The board: 7×9 with a river, traps and dens

The board is seven columns wide and nine rows long. In the middle of each player’s back row sits a den, surrounded by three trap squares: one on each side and one in front. Across the centre of the board lie two river areas, each two squares wide and three rows deep. Only three land columns run past them — the two edges and the centre column. Red starts at the bottom and moves first; Blue starts at the top.

The eight animals and their ranks

Each side has eight animals. An animal captures an enemy of equal or lower rank by moving onto its square. From strongest to weakest:

Elephant (8). The strongest piece, but it can never capture the Rat.
Lion (7). Can leap across the river.
Tiger (6). Can also leap across the river.
Leopard (5). A strong land piece with no special power.
Wolf (4). A mid-ranked piece, handy for guarding your traps.
Dog (3). Starts close to your den — a natural defender.
Cat (2). Also starts near your den; small, but often the last guard.
Rat (1). The weakest, yet the only animal that can swim and the only one that can capture the Elephant.

How pieces move and capture

One square at a time. Every animal moves one square up, down, left or right — never diagonally.
Capture by moving onto the enemy. Moving onto an enemy of equal or lower rank removes it. Equal ranks capture each other, so whoever strikes first wins the exchange.
The Rat beats the Elephant. The Rat can capture the Elephant, but the Elephant can never capture the Rat — the most famous rule of the game.
Stay out of your own den. Your pieces may never enter your own den.

The river

Only the Rat swims. No other animal may step into the water.
Water and land do not mix. A Rat in the river cannot capture a piece on land — not even the Elephant — and a piece on land cannot capture a Rat in the river. Two Rats in the water may capture each other.
The Lion and Tiger leap. They can jump straight across the river — over three squares vertically or two horizontally — landing on the first land square beyond, and capturing there if they outrank the piece. Any Rat in the water on that path, yours or the opponent’s, blocks the leap.

Traps, the den and how to win

The three traps around each den are defensive squares. An enemy animal standing on one of your traps loses all its rank, so any of your pieces — even the Rat or the Cat — can capture it there. Your own pieces are not weakened on your own traps. You win by moving any animal into the opponent’s den. You also win by capturing every enemy piece, or if your opponent has no legal move on their turn.

Strategy for beginners

Treasure your Rat. It is your only answer to the enemy Elephant and the only piece that can block a Lion or Tiger leap. Keep it in or beside the river, where it is hardest to catch.
Strike with the Lion and Tiger. The river leap lets them attack from far away. Before crossing, check that the enemy Rat is not waiting in the water to block the jump, and that no stronger piece is waiting on the far bank.
Use your traps as bait. An enemy on your trap can be taken by anything. Keep a small piece next to your traps, and strong attackers will think twice before stepping in.
Always guard the den. The game ends the instant one enemy animal reaches your den. Keep one or two defenders near home, especially once enemy pieces cross the river.
Count before you trade. Before stepping next to an enemy of equal rank, make sure it is your move that lands the blow, not theirs.
Control the land columns. The edge and centre columns are the only walking routes past the river for most animals. Holding them slows the enemy advance.

Dou Shou Qi online: same screen or vs computer

Our site has two versions. Animal Chess is a same-screen game for two people sharing one device, with Red moving first. Animal Chess vs Computer lets you play alone: pick your colour and one of three levels. Easy looks only one move ahead and often plays a deliberately weaker move, so it is a gentle partner for learning the rules. Normal also weighs your best reply and rarely slips. Expert looks a move further still, never plays a deliberate mistake, and pushes steadily toward your den. Beat the computer to earn ranking points — 10 on Easy, 30 on Normal, 100 on Expert — and sign in to save your best result on the leaderboard. Both versions are free in the browser with no download, and they work offline once loaded.

To put these rules into practice, open Animal Chess or Animal Chess vs Computer from the AppFreeGame games list or the chess games category. Start on Easy, try the river leap and the trap rule a few times, and you will soon find that the humble Rat decides more games than the mighty Elephant.

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