Japanese Chess

Japanese chess, or Shogi as it is known in Japan, is a strategy game that takes many mechanics of the game of Chess. Using a different rearrangement at the beginning of the game, and a larger board, players of Japanese chess can utilize a few different maneuvers and rules that make the game interesting, which is mostly likely why it has remained popular since the 12th century. While the overall goal of the game is to capture the enemy King, the strategies and possibilities make Japanese chess a great game to learn.

The board is a nine by nine board with rectangular squares of no designation. The 20 pieces are also rectangular and are represented by the following:

• Nine Pawns
• Two Knights
• Two Lances
• Two each of gold and silver generals
• One Rook
• One Bishop
• One King

Each piece of the equivalent Kanji character on one side and the other side contains an opposite color, usually red, which means that the piece has been promoted. All the pieces face towards the opponent to indicate who controls that piece at any given time.

At the beginning, the pieces control three rows, or ranks of the board. The first row contains the pieces in this order: Lance, Knight, Silver General, Gold General, King, Gold General, Silver General, Knight, Lance. On the second row, the bishop is placed above the left Knight, and the Rook is above the right Knight. Finally, the third row houses all nine pawns.

In Japanese chess, Black starts. Many of the pieces move very similarly to Chess pieces, with a few exceptions. Pieces can be blocked by other pieces, unless a capture is desired.

• Pawn-The Pawn moves one space forward as well as only capturing forward.
• Lance-The Lance can move any number of spaces forward.
• Knight-The Knight moves just like in Chess: one or two spaces in one direction and then one or two spaces perpendicular. This is the only piece that can jump other pieces.
• Silver General-A Silver General can move one space in any direction except left, right and backwards.
• Gold General-The Gold General can move one space in any direction except to either backwards diagonal.
• Bishop-The Bishop moves the same as in Chess, which his any number of spaces diagonal.
• Rook-The Rook can move any number of spaces forward, backwards, left and right.
• King-The King can move one square in any direction.

The last three rows (or an opponent's first three rows) is the promotion area. When a piece reaches this area, it is automatically promoted, which means the piece will have additional movements. The rook can now move one space diagonally; the bishop can move once space to the left, right, forward and backward; and the Silver general, knight, lance and pawn have the movement of a Gold general.

One large difference between Japanese chess and other chess game is that when you capture a piece, it becomes yours. You place it back on the board facing your opponent (which is the reason for the rectangular pieces with a coned edge.) A dropped piece cannot be placed in the promotion area on a spot that does not give it a valid subsequent move.

Pawns have two additional rules. You cannot drop a pawn on the same column as another pawn that you own. If the pawn is promoted, then you may place your newly captured pawn on the same column. Second, you cannot drop a pawn on the board that would give you a checkmate.

Check and checkmate is given the same way as in chess. If you attack the King with a piece and that King cannot move out of attack from that piece or other pieces that control the square it can escape to, then the King is checkmated.

One final note on winning and losing. A Japanese chess player cannot give a perpetual check. If you make a move that is not legal, then you automatically lose the game. This last rule is enforced in professional play and some amateur tournaments.

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