Contact Form
The Chess Variant Pages Index (Logo graphic)
More Information on this item

Crazyhouse is June's Recognized Chess Variant of the month. Play it against your computer with Zillions of Games or play it online with Game Courier.

Rate this page! | Skip to comments

Shogi

Japanese Chess

Recognized! Recognized Variant of the Month for February 2002. Twelve times per year we will select a Recognized Variant for special consideration. Its web page will be reworked and improved and a connecting link displayed on all of our CV Pages. We hope to encourage CVPhiles to read about, play and explore this featured variant.

Introduction
Setup
Pieces
Rules
Computer Play
shop

See also:

Pictures of a shogi set.

More photo's of shogi set.

Photo's of other shogi set. By Jean-Luc Muraro.

Photos of Homemade Symbolic Shogi Pieces. By Fergus Duniho and David Howe.

Shogi - Japanese Chess by Roger Hare. Information on shogi rules, variants, software, books, organizations, etc. (Link.)

Toshi's Shogi and Chess Page. Katsutoshi Seki's page on Shogi, with many Tsume Shogi problems. (Link.)

Pieter Stouten's Shogi Page. The best collection of Shogi links. (Link.)

Yahoo's page on Shogi. (Link.)

Questions and answers about the rules of shogi.

Look to the computer resources page for Shogi programs and Shogi program links.

An Introduction to Shogi for Chess Players (Link.)

Introduction

The world's first chess variant Chaturanga arose in India in approximately the seventh century AD. From there it migrated both westward and northward, mutating along the way. The western branch became Shatranj in Arabia and Orthodox Chess in Europe. The northern branch became Xiangqi in China and Changgi in Korea. Sometime in the 10th to 12th centuries, 'chess' crossed the channel to Japan where it spawned a number of interesting variants. One of these was called 'Small Shogi'. Eventually, Small Shogi (though it went through many forms) won out over the larger variants and is now referred to simply as 'Shogi'. It is certain that Shogi in its present form was played in Japan as early as the 16th century.

(shô ) (-gi) Shô means general and Gi means board game. Shogi (rhymes with yogi) means general's game.

Perhaps the enduring popularity of Shogi can be attributed to its 'drop rule'; it was the first chess variant wherein captured pieces could be returned to the board to be used as one's own. David Pritchard credits this to the practice of 16th century mercenaries who switched loyalties when captured -- no doubt as an alternative to execution.

Setup

Shogi is played on a 9x9 uncheckered board. Each player begins with one King, one Rook, one Bishop, two Gold Generals, two Silver Generals, two Knights, two Lances and nine Pawns. Four black dots are shown to the board to delineate promotion zones (those squares lying on the last three ranks). Unlike Orthodox Chess, all Shogi pieces are exactly the same color. Loyalties are determined by their directional headings. (See below.)

The array is as follows:

White:
King e1; Gold Generals d1, f1; Silver Generals c1, g1; Knights b1, h1; Lances a1, i1; Bishop b2; Rook h2; Pawns a3, b3, c3, d3, e3, f3, g3, h3, i3.

Black:
King e9; Gold Generals d9, f9; Silver Generals c9, g9; Knights b9, h9; Lances a9, i9; Bishop h8; Rook b8; Pawns a7, b7, c7, d7, e7, f7, g7, h7, i7.

Pieces

Shogi counters are flat irregular pentagons made of wood or plastic. A kanji symbol is printed on the top of each counter, denoting its identity as a starting piece. A second kanji symbol (traditionally red) is printed on the bottom of each counter (King and Gold Generals excepted), denoting its identity as a promoted piece. Either the top or bottom may be turned up, during the course of play, in order to display the required symbol .

Starting pieces

The King (actually 'jeweled general') moves as an Orthodox King.

The Gold General may move one square vertically, horizontally, or diagonally forward. (In all directions except diagonally rearward).

The Silver General may move one square diagonally, or straight forward. (In all directions except horizontally or straight rearward.)

The Knight (actually 'honorable horse') has the two forward-most moves of the Orthodox Knight. For example, a white Knight on d5 may go to c7 or to e7. It may leap over occupied squares.

The Lance has the forward-most move of the Orthodox Rook, keeping always in the same file. (Without promotion the Lance cannot leave its home file.)

The Bishop (actually 'angle goer') moves as an Orthodox Bishop.

The Rook (actually 'flying chariot') moves as an Orthodox Rook.

The Pawn (actually 'soldier') moves one square straight forward. Shogi Pawns capture in the same manner as they move -- as do all Shogi pieces.

Promoted pieces

The Silver General promotes to a Gold General. (Here the symbol indicates a promoted Silver General.)

The Knight promotes to a Gold General. (Here the symbol indicates a promoted Knight.)

The Lance promotes to a Gold General. (Here the symbol indicates a promoted Lance.)

The Pawn promotes to a Gold General. (Here the symbol indicates a promoted Pawn.)

The Rook promotes to Dragon King. (Here the symbol indicates a promoted Rook -- a Dragon King -- which has the combined moves of King and Rook.)

The Bishop promotes to Dragon Horse. (Here the symbol indicates a promoted Bishop -- a Dragon Horse -- which has the combined moves of King and Bishop.)

NOTE: The King and Gold General do not promote

Rules

  1. A Pawn is tossed to decide which player moves first.
  2. The object of the game is to checkmate the enemy King.
  3. Perpetual check is forbidden. The player initiating the check must break it off.
  4. Promotions are granted as follows...
    1. A starting piece moving to a square in the promotion zone (the last 3 ranks) earns a promotion. A promotion is indicated by flipping the piece over to display the symbol on its bottom side.
    2. An earned promotion (see above) may be deferred to a later move, as long as this move begins inside the promotion zone (the last 3 ranks). Where the move ends is of no relevance.
    3. Pieces arriving at a rank whereon they can move no further must promote. [e.g., a Pawn or Lance arriving on the 9th rank; a Knight arriving on the 8th or 9th rank.]
    4. Promoted pieces lose their promotion upon capture.
    5. Pieces 'dropped' into the promotion zone (the last 3 ranks) may not promote until making at least one move. (See below).
  5. Captive drops are performed as follows...
    1. A captured piece may be dropped onto the board (placed on a vacant square) to subsequently be used as one's own. This is done in lieu of a regular move.
    2. A Pawn may not be dropped onto a file containing a non-promoted Pawn.
    3. No piece may be dropped to a square from which it is impossible to move. [e.g., a Pawn or Lance to the 9th rank; a Knight to the 8th or 9th rank.]
    4. A checkmate may not be performed by the drop of a Pawn. A King may be checked by dropping a Pawn, but only if the drop does not result in an immediate checkmate.

Computer Play

If you have Zillions of Games installed on your computer, you can play this game. Download file: fdshogi.zip.

You can also play this game by email, using our web-based Play by Mail system.

Shop

Originally written by Hans Bodlaender. Editing by John William Brown. Image of opening setup sent by Katsutoshi Seki, from software made by Yoshikazu Kakinoki. Thanks to Arnoud Kleynjan for updated information on a link. Thanks also to Ivan A Derzhanski for corrections to the linguistic information on the word Shogi. Updates also by David Howe.
WWW page created: September 9, 1996. Last modified: February 12, 2002.

Submit this game to be available for rating!

The above was authored by: Hans L. Bodlaender. .
Created on: September 09, 1996. Last modified on: February 12, 2002.

See also:

Shogi: Cut-Out Symbolic Shogi Pieces. Make your own Shogi set Author: Fergus Duniho
Bird Shogi. Tori Shogi, or Bird Shogi. A variant of Japanese Chess on a 7 by 7 board. Author: Steve Evans Inventor: Ohashi Soei
Heian Shogi. or Early Shogi. A predecessor of Shogi. Author: Steve Evans
Heian-Dai Shogi. Early Great Shogi Author: Steve Evans
Hishigata Shogi. Variation of Maka-Dai-Dai Shogi (ultra large Shogi). By: Sean Humby
Kokusai Sannin Shogi. Three-handed Shogi variant. Author: John Fairbairn and George F. Hodges Inventor: Tanigasaki Jisuke
Maka-Dai-Dai Shogi. Historical ultra large Shogi variant. (Link) Author: Jean-Louis Cazaux
Shogi. Japans schaak Author: Hans L. Bodlaender and John William Brown
Shogi for Chess Players. Introduction to Shogi geared for western chess players. (Link) Author: Douglas Crockford
Taikyoku Shogi. Extremely large shogi variant. Author: Isao Umebayashi and Larry L. Smith
Tunnelshogi. 3-D Shogi variant. By: Charles Gilman
Yonin Shogi. 4-handed Shogi variant Author: Jared B. McComb Inventor: Ota Mitsuyasu
Diagrammatic Shogi Pieces. Icons of shogi pieces in diagram style Author: Fergus Duniho
Motif Shogi Pieces. Motif style Shogi pieces made from photos of wood Author: Fergus Duniho
Shogi Pieces. Graphics of shogi pieces and symbols. Author: David Howe
Western Shogi Pieces. Icons of shogi pieces in western style Author: Fergus Duniho
Shogi Deutschland e. V.. (Link)
The Shogi Foundation. Organization selling books on Shogi and a portable shogi set (Link)
Shogi. Play the Japanese form of Chess, in which captured pieces can be dropped back as your own. Author: Fergus Duniho
Maka-Dai-Dai Shogi pictures. Photos of a commercial Maka-dai-dai Shogi set Author: John Lawson
Photos of Homemade Symbolic Shogi Pieces. By: Fergus Duniho
Shogi set. Photo's of shogi (Japanese chess) set Author: Jean-Luc Muraro
Shogi set. Photographs of a Shogi set. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender
Tenjiku Shogi pictures. Photos of a commercial Tenjiku Shogi set Author: John Lawson
Shocky. A program that plays Shogi. Author: Pauli Misikangas
Shogi Programs. Links to different programs that play Shogi. (Link) Author: Moshe Rapaport
The Art of Shogi. Information on book on Shogi. Author: Tony Hosking
How to Play Shogi. A book on Japanese chess, Shogi. Author: John Fairbairn
Rules for historic Shogi variants. Author: George F. Hodges
Shogi - Japan's Game of Strategy.. Book teaching how to play Shogi Author: Trevor Leggett
Shogi for Beginners. A book on Japanese chess, Shogi. Author: John Fairbairn
Questions and answers: Shogi. Shogi FAQ. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender
Shogi : Japan's Game of Strategy. (Link) Author: Trevor Leggett
Shogi for Beginners. (Link) Author: John Fairbairn
Elephant Chess Club. Webshop selling internationalized Xiangqi and Shogi sets (Link)
Shogi Variants Site. Wikipedia dedicated to Shogi Variants. (Link) Author: Joseph Peterson
Shogi. Westernized version using Alfaerie graphics. (Zillions of Games file) Author: David Howe and Fergus Duniho
Shogi, Mortal Shogi, and Kamikaze Mortal Shogi. Optimized ZRFs for Japanese Chess and some recent variants (Zillions of Games file) Author: Fergus Duniho

Comments

DateNameRatingComment
2006-02-18Dane Rogers None
Thanks for the replies David and Elijah. If you want a game of taikyoku
shogi, you can find it in here.
http://taikyokushogi.hp.infoseek.co.jp/taikyoku.swf and thats the larger
version.
http://taikyokushogi.hp.infoseek.co.jp/taikyoku.html
2006-02-05Elijah Johnson NoneI think the closest thing to that would be Taiykoku Shogi, with a 36x36 Board and 100+ types of pieces. There's probaly someone around here who's finished a game of the flash version.
2006-02-05Gary K. Gifford Excellent
Shogi, is of course, an excellent game. But here is what is interesting: In
relation to another CV comment, seemingly unrelated (i.e., Fergus's
comment to research a certain player to see he (Fergus) had no
double-identity).. Well, I did research that player and found out he was
in Tokyo and had a Shogi link which was quite interesting.  He also
mentioned a site where you could play Shogi in real-time.  So, I went to
http://www.kurnik.org and in minutes won my first 10 minute on-line speed
Shogi game... quite fun.  I was then crushing my opponent in a second game
when a most terrible thing happened.  I went to move the Rook, but then
realized I could drop a pawn instead and win a Lance for the pawn.  When I
clicked to drop the pawn, my Rook moved to that square instead... so,
instead of winning a Lance, I lost a Rook... oh what sorrow due to a
mechanical issue.  Anyway, it is fun to play real-time Shogi... and thanks
to the rating system double-idntity issue, a real-time Shogi site was
found.
2006-02-04David Paulowich Nonehttp://www.chessvariants.org/d.photo/taishogi/taipic.html

has some pictures of a (25x25) board and pieces for Tai Shogi. Dane, I think that is about the largest game anyone here will ever play.

2006-02-04Dane Rogers GoodHow about creating a shogi variant using all the shogi pieces from every game and every piece on the Chess variant pages?! It will probably be about 40 by 40 to 45 by 45 spaces big! Please use all versions of a piece. Please give me credit for the idea . By Dane Rogers. Age 11 and 3/4

This item has a total of 62 comment(s), 26 rating(s), and an average rating of Excellent. View all comments for this item.

Provide feedback on this page!

[info] [edit] [link] 







Graphic of a chess pawn.

Contact us

About us







The Chess Variant Pages

sponsored by

advertisement










  

  
  

  Graphic of a chess knight.
  
Graphic of Palamede Logo.

  Member of
Palamede
  

  













Your OWN email service! 

Get free web-based email with POP access! 



 




 

Last modified: Thursday, August 18, 2005