Shogi

The rules listed on this page were automatically generated and probably need some manual cleanup.

The opening position for shogi.

Rules

Shogi is played on a 9x9 board White moves first. White and black begin the game with 9 Pawns (P)
White and black begin the game with 2 Lances (L)
White and black begin the game with 2 Knights (N)
White and black begin the game with 2 Silver generals (S)
White and black begin the game with 1 Bishop (B)
White and black begin the game with 1 Rook (R)
White and black begin the game with 2 Gold generals (G)
White and black begin the game with 1 King (K)
White and black begin the game with 0 Promoted pawns (+P)
White and black begin the game with 0 Promoted lances (+L)
White and black begin the game with 0 Promoted knights (+N)
White and black begin the game with 0 Promoted silvers (+S)
White and black begin the game with 0 Dragon horses (+B)
White and black begin the game with 0 Dragon kings (+R)
The King is a royal piece (king).
Captured pieces go to your hand.
Pieces in-hand may be dropped on an empty square. This counts as a move.

Objectives

The game is won:

• If the enemy king is check-mated.

The game is a draw:

• If the enemy king is stale-mated.
• If the enemy only has a king left and cannot take your last piece
• If the same position occurs for the third time.
• If no progress has been made for 50 consecutive moves.
• If there is insufficient material to mate the enemy king.

Movement of the pieces

Pawn (P)
The Pawn moves and captures as a stepper (marked •). Betza description: fWf@8 The Pawn cannot move back to the square it came from. The Pawn may not be dropped to deliver mate. The Pawn may not be dropped if there is already a friendly Pawn on the same file. The Pawn can promote to a Promoted pawn.
Lance (L)
The Lance moves and captures as a stepper (marked •). Betza description: fR@8 The Lance cannot move back to the square it came from. The Lance can promote to a Promoted lance.
Knight (N)
The Knight moves and captures as a asymmetric leaper (marked •). Betza description: ffN@7 The Knight cannot move back to the square it came from. The Knight can promote to a Promoted knight.
Silver general (S)
The Silver general moves and captures as a asymmetric leaper (marked •). Betza description: FfW The Silver general can promote to a Promoted silver.
Bishop (B)
The Bishop moves and captures as a slider (marked •). Betza description: B The Bishop can promote to a Dragon horse.
Rook (R)
The Rook moves and captures as a slider (marked •). Betza description: R The Rook can promote to a Dragon king.
Gold general (G)
The Gold general moves and captures as a asymmetric leaper (marked •). Betza description: WfF
King (K)
The King moves and captures as a leaper (marked •). Betza description: K
Promoted pawn (+P)
The Promoted pawn moves and captures as a asymmetric leaper (marked •). Betza description: WfF The Promoted pawn demotes to Pawn when captured
Promoted lance (+L)
The Promoted lance moves and captures as a asymmetric leaper (marked •). Betza description: WfF The Promoted lance demotes to Lance when captured
Promoted knight (+N)
The Promoted knight moves and captures as a asymmetric leaper (marked •). Betza description: WfF The Promoted knight demotes to Knight when captured
Promoted silver (+S)
The Promoted silver moves and captures as a asymmetric leaper (marked •). Betza description: WfF The Promoted silver demotes to Silver general when captured
Dragon horse (+B)
The Dragon horse moves and captures as a compound (marked •). Betza description: BW The Dragon horse demotes to Bishop when captured
Dragon king (+R)
The Dragon king moves and captures as a compound (marked •). Betza description: RF The Dragon king demotes to Rook when captured

Promotion

Promotions are allowed when a piece moves into or out of the promotion zone.

Pawn (P)
The Pawn must promote when it reaches one of the squares marked with •. The Pawn may promote when it reaches one of the squares marked with ×. The Pawn can promote to a Promoted pawn.
Lance (L)
The Lance must promote when it reaches one of the squares marked with •. The Lance may promote when it reaches one of the squares marked with ×. The Lance can promote to a Promoted lance.
Knight (N)
The Knight must promote when it reaches one of the squares marked with •. The Knight may promote when it reaches one of the squares marked with ×. The Knight can promote to a Promoted knight.
Silver general (S)
The Silver general may promote when it reaches one of the squares marked with ×. The Silver general can promote to a Promoted silver.
Bishop (B)
The Bishop may promote when it reaches one of the squares marked with ×. The Bishop can promote to a Dragon horse.
Rook (R)
The Rook may promote when it reaches one of the squares marked with ×. The Rook can promote to a Dragon king.