boardgames.zoneShogi
Japanese chess where captured pieces join you
- 2 players
- 30–60 min
- DifficultyHard
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How to play
- Captured pieces can be dropped back on board
- Most pieces promote in the enemy zone
- Two pawns cannot be on the same file
- Drops cannot give immediate checkmate
Questions
Checkmate the opponent's King. Unlike Western chess, stalemate results in a loss for the stalemated player.
Played on a 9x9 board. Each player has 20 pieces: 1 King, 1 Rook, 1 Bishop, 2 Gold Generals, 2 Silver Generals, 2 Knights, 2 Lances, and 9 Pawns. Pieces point toward the opponent to show ownership.
Checkmate the King. Draws are extremely rare - perpetual check is forbidden. Games are almost always decisive.
The King moves one square in any direction. The Rook moves any number of squares orthogonally. The Bishop moves any number diagonally. Gold Generals move one square orthogonally or diagonally forward.
Dropping pieces makes defense easier and attacks more complex - always consider where captured pieces might appear. A piece in hand is often worth more than on the board - it can appear anywhere. The Rook and Bishop are powerful but vulnerable to piece drops nearby.
Shogi evolved from chaturanga like other chess variants, reaching its modern form in Japan around the 16th century. The piece-drop rule makes it unique among chess variants.