Reference

Piece movement and rules

A quick reference for piece movement and illegal moves whenever you are uncertain during a match.

Shogi reference

Piece movement quick reference

Review the movement of all eight piece types, promotion, pieces in hand, check and checkmate, and illegal moves in one place.

Move record and board coordinates

Standard human-readable notation

Move record and coordinates Japanese-style move record (KIF/KI2) ▲７六歩

Code for storage and integration USI 7g7f

Squares are read from the top right, starting at １一.

Visual reference

Piece catalog

Compare the eight piece types by role in a compact view. Some pieces change movement when promoted.

8 types

King

The heart of victory and defeat

King / Jeweled General Moves one square in any direction. Protect it from capture.

Major pieces

Long-range powerhouses

Rook Moves any number of squares vertically or horizontally and becomes a Dragon when promoted.

Bishop Moves any number of squares diagonally and becomes a Horse when promoted.

Gold and Silver

Essential to attack and defense

Gold General Protects the King and supports the final mating attack.

Silver General Uses diagonal movement to penetrate the opponent's camp.

Minor pieces

Stronger together

Knight Excels at leaping over other pieces.

Lance Runs straight ahead any number of squares.

Pawn Advances one square at a time and becomes a Tokin when promoted.

King / Jeweled General

One square forward, backward, sideways, or diagonally It cannot move to a square controlled by an opponent. The King and Jeweled General move identically. Promotion: No promotion

Rook

Any number of squares vertically or horizontally It cannot jump over intervening pieces. It is the key piece for attacking distant files and ranks. Promotion: Dragon: Any number of squares vertically or horizontally + one square diagonally

Bishop

Any number of squares diagonally It cannot jump over intervening pieces. Open the bishop's diagonal to control distant squares. Promotion: Horse: Any number of squares diagonally + one square vertically or horizontally

Gold General

One square forward, backward, or sideways, or diagonally forward A cornerstone of defense. It cannot move to either diagonally backward square. Promotion: No promotion

Silver General

One square forward or in any of the four diagonal directions Useful in attack. It cannot move sideways or directly backward. Promotion: Promoted Silver: Moves like a Gold General

Knight

Jumps to either of the two squares two ranks forward The only piece that can jump over intervening pieces. It must promote within the last two ranks. Promotion: Promoted Knight: Moves like a Gold General

Lance

Any number of squares forward It cannot move backward. It must promote on the last rank. Promotion: Promoted Lance: Moves like a Gold General

Pawn

One square forward It cannot move backward. Nifu—placing two unpromoted pawns on the same file—is prohibited. Promotion: Tokin: Moves like a Gold General

“Forward” means toward the opponent's camp Checkmate the opposing king to win Double pawns are prohibited Pawn-drop mate is prohibited Pieces with nowhere to move are prohibited You must respond to check Moves that expose your own king to check are prohibited Captured pieces can be dropped from your hand Some pieces can promote upon entering enemy territory Repetition occurs when the same position appears four times Impasse is decided when the kings enter enemy territory

Flow of play and how to win

Sente and Gote alternate one move at a time. On your turn, either move a piece on the board or drop one from your hand.
Move onto a square occupied by an opposing piece to capture it, then use it as a piece in hand on a later turn.
Check means the king could be captured on the next move. You must answer it by moving the king, capturing the checking piece, interposing a piece, or another legal defense.
Checkmate is a position in which no legal move can answer the check. Checkmate the opposing king to win.

Violations and check

Double pawns are prohibited: you cannot have two unpromoted pawns on the same file.
Pawn-drop mate is prohibited: you cannot drop a pawn from hand to deliver immediate checkmate.
Pieces with nowhere to move are prohibited: you cannot drop or move a pawn or lance unpromoted to the last rank, or a knight unpromoted to either of the last two ranks.
You must respond to check: move the king, capture the attacker, block the attack, or otherwise resolve it.
Moves that expose your own king to check are prohibited: you cannot move your king into an opponent's attack.

Promotion and pieces in hand

Captured pieces become pieces in hand and may be dropped onto an empty square as your own.
You may promote when a move enters, leaves, or stays within the opponent's three-rank promotion zone.
A pawn or lance moving to the last rank, or a knight moving to either of the last two ranks, must promote because it would otherwise have no legal next move.
Promoted Silver, Promoted Knight, Promoted Lance, and Tokin move like a Gold.

Repetition and impasse

Repetition: when the same position occurs four times, the game is treated as a draw.
Impasse: when both kings enter enemy territory and are difficult to checkmate, the result is decided by piece points or tournament rules.

Shogi

Basics Tutorial

Beginner

Practice the basic controls right here

Choose a step in the inline tutorial below to review the flow.

Next step

Choose after the tutorial

Once you are comfortable moving pieces, review anything that was unclear or practice your decisions with a short problem.

Learn: Your first three minutes Quickly review board orientation, piece selection, promotion, and pieces in hand. Web tutorial Learn: Piece movement quick reference Check each piece's movement and violations on one screen whenever you are unsure. CMS guide Train: Next move Practice opening moves, attacking formations, and defenses against check through short puzzles. Practice before a match Mastery: Maxims and competitive philosophy Read about whole-board vision, decisions, attack and defense, the endgame, and competitive spirit in a practical guide. Reading