Shogi variants
Other ways to play Shogi, each one ready to play here. Read how a variant changes the rules, then start a game with it chosen in the table setup.
Handicap Shogi
The stronger player takes some of their own pieces off the board and moves first, so players of different strength get an even game.
Minishogi
Shogi on a 5×5 board with six pieces a side, where drops come into play almost at once.
Judkins Shogi
Shogi on a 6×6 board with seven pieces a side, a knight included, and a promotion zone two rows deep.
Animal Shogi
A 3×4 shogi for children with a lion, a giraffe, an elephant and a chick, won by capturing the lion or walking your own to the far row.
Tori Shogi
Bird shogi on a 7×7 board: a phoenix, a falcon, cranes, pheasants, quails and swallows, with forced promotion and drops.
Kyoto Shogi
Shogi on a 5×5 board where every piece except the king turns over after each move, switching between two very different pieces.
Annan Shogi
Standard shogi with one twist: a piece with a friendly piece right behind it moves like that piece.