How to Play Japanese Chess


The pieces
The shape of the pieces in shogi are completely different from normal chess. Most western chess sets have figurines that have different shapes. Shogi is played with wedged shaped tiles that have kanji on them that indicate the unit type. Also, the units are not colored to indicate whose they are. Instead, the direction of the pointed edge of each wedge is used to determine this. When you re-enter a piece you've captured, you put the pointed edge away from you so you know it is yours. Lastly, on the back side of each unit, there is the upgraded form of that unit. When a unit is promoted it is turned over. When a unit is captured, it is reverted to the non-promoted form.

Promotion
The 3 rows farthest away from each player is that player's promotion zone. This varies from standard chess where only the very last line is the promotion zone. When a unit enters or leaves a promotion zone, it may be promoted. A promoted piece is flipped over, revealing the new rank of that unit. The only units that cannot upgrade are the king, the gold generals, and units that have already been promoted. A unit doesn't have to promote unless it would have no other leagal move (such as a pawn on the last row, a lance on the last row, or a knight on one of the last 2). A unit that re-enters play in the promotion zone is not promoted until it make a move.

Re-entering
This is one of the most unique aspects of the game. When you capture a piece in shogi, it belongs to you. During any turn, you may chose to take a piece you have previously captured and put it almost anywhere on the board. You may even put your opponent in check with a piece you re-enter. However, there are a few restrictions for some units. Units maybe be put in the promotion zone, but they are not promoted until they make another move. You may, however, put the king into check or even checkmate by re-entering the correct piece at the correct time. But remember, the opponent may re-enter his own piece to shield his king.

Pawn
fuhyou Fuhyou
Pawns only move one space foreward per turn. They may not move 2 spaces on their first turn. Also, they capture the same way that they move. If a pawn reaches the promotion zone, it may upgrade to a tokin. Pawns have 3 restrictions when it comes to re-entering:
Tokin
tokin Tokin
The tokin is the promoted form of a pawn. It has the same movement of a gold general. It may move in any direction one space with the exception of the 2 back diagonals.

King
gyokushououshou Gyokushou & Oushou
The king is the same as our king. The king may move one space in any direction as long he does not put himself into check. The king does not promote. The side with the black king (gyokushou) always goes first. The white king (oushou) goes second.

Gold General
kinshou Kinshou
The gold general is a unit that is not in normal chess. It may move in any direction one space except for the backward diagonals. The gold general does not promote, but here is one little shortcut that may help you related to the general. When any unit promotes with the exception of the rook and the bishop, it essentially becomes a gold general and moves exactly the same way.

Silver General
ginshou Ginshou
The silver general is also not present in normal chess. It may move in any diagonal one space or one space stright forward. It promotes to a promoted silver general.

Promoted Silver General
nari gin Nari Gin
When the silver general promotes, it becomes a promoted silver general. It has the same movement as a gold general would (one in any direction but backward diagonals).

Knight
keima Keima
The knight has a similar movement to our knight, but it severly restricted. It may only move 2 spaces forward and then one left and right as a single move and it is the only unit in shogi that may "jump" friendly and enemy pieces. However, once it reaches the promotion zone, it becomes a promoted knight. Knights may not be re-entered into play on the last two rows.

Promoted Knight
nari kei Nari Kei
When the knight promotes, it becomes a promoted knight. It has the same movement as a gold general would (one in any direction but backward diagonals).

Lance
kyousha Kyousha
The lance is an interesting unit. It moves foreward any number of spaces. So until either it promotes or it is captured, it cannot change files. This can be useful if you capture an enemies lance because you may re-enter to threaten from afar. The only limitation is that you may not re-enter it on the last row. It promotes to a promoted lance.

Promoted Lance
nari kyou Nari Kyou
When the lance promotes, it becomes a promoted lance. It has the same movement as a gold general would (one in any direction but backward diagonals).

Bishop
kakugyou Kakugyou
The bishop is the same as here except it can promote. It may move any number of spaces any diagonal. The bishop promotes to a dragon horse. The bishop's name litterally means "angle-mover."

Dragon Horse
ryuume Ryuume
The bishop promotes to a dragon horse. This is the second most powerful unit in the game. On any turn, it may move either like a bishop or it may move to any adjacent space.

Rook
hisha Hisha
The rook is the same as here except it can promote. It may move any number of spaces in any direction except diagonals. The rook promotes to a dragon king. The rook's name actually means "flying cart."

Dragon King
ryuuou Ryuuou
The rook promotes to a dragon king. This is the most powerful unit in the game. On any turn, it may move either like a rook or it may move to any adjacent space.

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