Wa shogi
Encyclopedia
Wa shogi is a large board variant
of shogi
(Japanese chess) in which all of the pieces are named for animals. It is played either with or without drops.
Each player has a set of 27 wedge-shaped pieces, of slightly different sizes. From largest to smallest (most to least powerful) they are:
Each piece has its name in the form of two kanji
marked on its face. On the reverse side of each piece (other than crane kings, cloud eagles and treacherous foxes) are two other characters, often in a different color (e.g., red instead of black); this reverse side is turned up to indicate that the piece has been promoted during play. The pieces of the two sides do not differ in color, but instead each piece is shaped like a wedge, and faces forward, toward the opposing side. This shows who controls the piece during play.
style="background:#ffdead" border="1" cellspacing="0">
11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
LH
CM
SO
FC
VS
CK
VW
FG
SC
BD
OC
a
CE
SW
FF
b
SP
SP
SP
RR
SP
SP
SP
TF
SP
SP
SP
c
SP
SP
d
e
f
g
SP
SP
h
SP
SP
SP
TF
SP
SP
SP
RR
SP
SP
SP
i
FF
SW
CE
j
OC
BD
SC
FG
VW
CK
VS
FC
SO
CM
LH
k
Each side places his pieces in the positions shown below, pointing toward the opponent.
That is, the first rank is |OC|BD|SC|FG|VW|CK|VS|FC|SO|CM|LH|.
Each piece on the game moves in a characteristic pattern. Pieces move either orthogonally (that is, forward, backward, left, or right, in the direction of one of the arms of a plus sign, +), or diagonally (in the direction of one of the arms of a multiplication sign, ×).
If an oxcart or sparrow pawn, which cannot retreat or move aside, advances across the board until it can no longer move, it must promote.
Many pieces are capable of several kinds of movement, with the type of movement most often depending on the direction in which they move. The movement categories are:
The step movers are the crane king, violent wolf, violent stag, blind dog, climbing monkey, flying goose, flying cock, strutting crow, swooping owl and the 9 sparrow pawns on each side.
The ranging pieces are the cloud eagle, flying falcon, running rabbit, swallow’s wings, liberated horse and oxcart.
Promoting a piece has the effect of changing how that piece moves.
{| border="1" width="100%"
|-
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" width="50%" | Crane King 靏玉 kakugyoku
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" width="50%" | Cloud Eagle 雲鷲 unjū
|-
| Step: The crane king can step one square in any direction, orthogonal or diagonal.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 靏 || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
| colspan="2" |
{| border="1" frame="void"
|Ranging: The cloud eagle can move any number of free squares directly forward or backward.
Limited range: It can move one, two or three squares diagonally forward.
Step: It can step one square orthogonally sideways or diagonally backward.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:150px"
|- align=center
| width="14%" bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || width="14%" | || width="14%" | || width="14%" bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || width="14%" | || width="14%" | || width="14%" bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 鷲 || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| || || || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || || ||
|}
|}
|-
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" width="50%" | Treacherous Fox 隠狐 inko, onko
| colspan="2" width="50%" |
|-
| Step: The treacherous fox can move one square in the four diagonal directions; or, it can move one square orthogonally forward or backward.
Jump: It can jump to the second square in those directions.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" bgcolor="#f0f0b0" | ☆ || width="20%" | || width="20%" bgcolor="#f0f0b0" | ☆ || width="20%" | || width="20%" bgcolor="#f0f0b0" | ☆
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 狐 || ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| bgcolor="#f0f0b0" | ☆ || || bgcolor="#f0f0b0" | ☆ || || bgcolor="#f0f0b0" | ☆
|}
| colspan="2" | The treacherous fox does not promote.
|-
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" width="50%" | Flying Falcon 飛鷹 hiyō
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#d0d0f0" width="50%" | *Tenacious Falcon 鶏鷹 keiyō
|-
| Range: The flying falcon can move any number of free squares along any of the four diagonal directions.
Step: It can step one square forward.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ＼ || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ／
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ＼ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ／ ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 鷹 || ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ／ || || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ＼ ||
|- align=center
| bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ／ || || || || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ＼
|}
| Range: The tenacious falcon can move any number of free squares in the two forward diagonal directions; or, it can move any number of free squares directly forward or backward.
Step: It can move one square orthogonally sideways.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ＼ || width="20%" | || width="20%" bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || width="20%" | || width="20%" bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ／
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ＼ || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ／ ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || style="color:red" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 鶏
鷹 || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ／ || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ＼ ||
|- align=center
| bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ／ || || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ＼
|}
|-
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" width="50%" | Running Rabbit 走兎 sōto
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#d0d0f0" width="50%" | Treacherous fox 隠狐 inko, onko
|-
| Range: The running rabbit can move any number of free squares straight forward.
Step: It can step one square in one of the four diagonal directions; or, one square straight backward.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 兎 || ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
| Step: The treacherous fox can move one square in the four diagonal directions; or, it can move one square orthogonally forward or backward.
Jump: It can jump to the second square in those directions.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" bgcolor="#f0f0b0" | ☆ || width="20%" | || width="20%" bgcolor="#f0f0b0" | ☆ || width="20%" | || width="20%" bgcolor="#f0f0b0" | ☆
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || style="color:red" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 狐 || ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| bgcolor="#f0f0b0" | ☆ || || bgcolor="#f0f0b0" | ☆ || || bgcolor="#f0f0b0" | ☆
|}
|-
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" width="50%" | Violent Wolf 猛狼 mōrō
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#d0d0f0" width="50%" | *Bear's Eyes 熊眼 yūgan
|-
| Step: The violent wolf can step one square in one of the four orthogonal directions; or, one square diagonally forward, giving it six possibilities.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 狼 || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
| Step: The bear’s eyes can step one square in any direction, orthogonal or diagonal.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || style="color:red" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 熊 || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
|-
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" width="50%" | Violent Stag 猛鹿 mōroku
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#d0d0f0" width="50%" | *Roaming Boar 行猪 gyōcho
|-
| Step: The violent stag can step one square in one of the four diagonal directions; or, one square straight forward, giving it five possibilities.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 鹿 || ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
| Step: The roaming boar can step one square in any direction, orthogonal or diagonal, except directly backward.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || style="color:red" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 猪 || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
|-
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" width="50%" | Blind Dog 盲犬 mōken
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#d0d0f0" width="50%" | Violent Wolf 猛狼 mōrō
|-
| Step: The blind dog can step one square orthogonally sideways, directly backward, or diagonally forward.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 犬 || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
| Step: The violent wolf can step one square in one of the four orthogonal directions; or, one square diagonally forward, giving it six possibilities.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || style="color:red" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 狼 || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
|-
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" width="50%" | Climbing Monkey 登猿 tōen
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#d0d0f0" width="50%" | Violent Stag 猛鹿 mōroku
|-
| Step: The climbing monkey can step one square directly forward or backward, or one square diagonally forward, giving it four possibilities.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 猿 || ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
| Step: The violent stag can step one square in one of the four diagonal directions; or, one square straight forward, giving it five possibilities.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || style="color:red" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 鹿 || ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
|-
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" width="50%" | Flying Goose 鳫飛 ganhi
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#d0d0f0" width="50%" | Swallow's Wings 燕羽 en’u
|-
| Step: The flying goose can step one square directly forward or backward, or one square diagonally forward, giving it four possibilities.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 鳫 || ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
| Range: The swallow's wings can move any number of free squares orthogonally sideways.
Step: It can move one square orthogonally forward or backward.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ─ || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ─ || style="color:red" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 燕 || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ─ || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ─
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
|-
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" width="50%" | Flying Cock 鶏飛 keihi
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#d0d0f0" width="50%" | *Raiding Falcon 延鷹 en’yō
|-
| Step: The flying cock can step one square orthogonally sideways or diagonally forward.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 鶏 || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
| Range: The raiding falcon can move any number of free squares orthogonally forward, backward or diagonally forward.
Step: It can step one square orthogonally sideways.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || style="color:red" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 延 || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || ||
|}
|-
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" width="50%" | Swallow's Wings 燕羽 en’u
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#d0d0f0" width="50%" | *Gliding Swallow 燕行 engyō
|-
| Range: The swallow's wings can move any number of free squares orthogonally sideways.
Step: It can move one square orthogonally forward or backward.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ─ || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ─ || bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 燕 || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ─ || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ─
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
| Range: The gliding swallow can move any number of free squares along any of the four orthogonal directions.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || ||
|- align=center
| bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ─ || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ─ || style="color:red" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 行 || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ─ || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ─
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || ||
|}
|-
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" width="50%" | Strutting Crow 烏行 ukō
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#d0d0f0" width="50%" | Flying Falcon 飛鷹 hiyō
|-
| Step: The strutting crow can step one square directly forward or diagonally backward, giving it three possibilities.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 烏 || ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
| Range: The flying falcon can move any number of free squares along any of the four diagonal directions.
Step: It can step one square forward.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ＼ || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ／
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ＼ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ／ ||
|- align=center
| || || style="color:red" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 鷹 || ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ／ || || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ＼ ||
|- align=center
| bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ／ || || || || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ＼
|}
|-
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" width="50%" | Swooping Owl 鴟行 shigyō
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#d0d0f0" width="50%" | Cloud Eagle 雲鷲 unjū
|-
| Step: The swooping owl can step one square directly forward or diagonally backward, giving it three possibilities.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 鴟 || ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
| colspan="2" |
{| {| border="1" frame="void"
|Ranging: The cloud eagle can move any number of free squares directly forward or backward.
Limited range: It can move one, two or three squares diagonally forward.
Step: It can step one square orthogonally sideways or diagonally backward.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:150px"
|- align=center
| width="14%" bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || width="14%" | || width="14%" | || width="14%" bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || width="14%" | || width="14%" | || width="14%" bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || style="color:red" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 鷲 || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| || || || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || || ||
|}
|}
|-
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" width="50%" | Liberated Horse 風馬 fūma
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#d0d0f0" width="50%" | *Heavenly Horse 天馬 temma
|-
| Range: The liberated horse can move any number of free squares along the forward orthogonal.
Limited range: It can step one or two squares directly backward.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 風 || ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|}
| Jump: The heavenly horse jumps at an angle intermediate between orthogonal and diagonal, amounting to one square forward plus one square diagonally forward; or, one square backward plus one square diagonally backward in a single motion, ignoring any intervening piece.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" bgcolor="#f0f0b0" | ☆ || width="20%" | || width="20%" bgcolor="#f0f0b0" | ☆ || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|- align=center
| || || style="color:red" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 天 || ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#f0f0b0" | ☆ || || bgcolor="#f0f0b0" | ☆ ||
|}
|-
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" width="50%" | Oxcart 牛車 gissha
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#d0d0f0" width="50%" | *Plodding Ox 歬牛 sengyū
|-
| Range: The oxcart can move any number of free squares straight forward.
An oxcart that reaches the furthest rank must promote.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 車 || ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
| Step: The plodding ox can step one square in any direction, orthogonal or diagonal.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || style="color:red" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 牛 || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
|-
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" width="50%" | Sparrow Pawn 萑歩 jakufu
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#d0d0f0" width="50%" | *Golden Bird 金鳥 kinchō
|-
| Step: The sparrow pawn can step one square forward.
A sparrow pawn that reaches the furthest rank must promote.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 歩 || ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
| Step: The golden bird can step one square in one of the four orthogonal directions; or, one square diagonally forward, giving it six possibilities.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || style="color:red" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 金 || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
|}
Descriptions of wa shogi from historical texts make no mention that drops were ever used; however, many people in modern times enjoy playing this game with drops. The rules pertaining to drops are usually based on modern shogi.
, and effectively wins the game.
A player is not allowed to give perpetual check
.
A player who makes an illegal move loses immediately. (This rule may be relaxed in casual games.)
There are two other possible (but fairly uncommon) ways for a game to end: repetition (千日手 sennichite) and impasse (持将棋 jishōgi).
If the same position occurs four times with the same player to play, then the game is no contest. (Recall, however, the prohibition against perpetual check.) For two positions to be considered the same, the pieces in hand must be the same, as well as the position on the board.
The game reaches an impasse if both crane kings have advanced into their respective promotion zones and neither player can hope to mate the other or to gain any further material.
, but differs in several respects. Modifications have been made for wa shogi.
A typical example is SP-8f.
The first letter represents the piece moved: SP = sparrow pawn, OC = oxcart, LH = liberated horse, CM = climbing monkey, BD = blind dog, SO = swooping owl, SC = strutting crow, FC = flying cock, FG = flying goose, VS = violent stag, VW = violent wolf, RR = running rabbit, TF = treacherous fox, SW = swallow’s wings, FF = flying falcon, CE = cloud eagle and , CK = crane king.
Promoted pieces have a + added in front of the letter e.g., +SP for a golden bird (promoted sparrow pawn).
The designation of the piece is followed by a symbol indicating the type of move: - for an ordinary move or x for a capture.
Next is the designation for the square on which the piece lands.
This consists of a number representing the file and a lowercase letter representing the rank, with 1a being the top right corner (as seen from Black's point of view) and 11k being the bottom left corner.
(This method of designating squares is based on Japanese convention, which, however, uses Japanese numerals
instead of letters. For example, the square 2c is denoted by 2三 in Japanese.)
If a move entitles the player to promote the piece, then a + is added to the end to signify that the promotion was taken, or an = to indicate that it was declined.
For example, FFx7c= indicates a flying falcon capturing on 7c without promoting.
In cases where the above notation would be ambiguous, the designation of the start square is added after the designation for the piece in order to make clear which piece is meant. This can only apply to golden birds.
Moves are commonly numbered as in chess.
Shogi variant
Many variants of shogi have been developed over the centuries, ranging from some of the largest chess-type games ever played to some of the smallest...
of shogi
Shogi
, also known as Japanese chess, is a two-player board game in the same family as Western chess, chaturanga, and Chinese Xiangqi, and is the most popular of a family of chess variants native to Japan...
(Japanese chess) in which all of the pieces are named for animals. It is played either with or without drops.
Game equipment
Two players, Black and White (or 先手 sente and 後手 gote), play on a board ruled into a grid of 11 ranks (rows) by 11 files (columns). The squares are undifferentiated by marking or color.Each player has a set of 27 wedge-shaped pieces, of slightly different sizes. From largest to smallest (most to least powerful) they are:
- 1 crane king
- 1 cloud eagle
- 1 flying falcon
- 1 swallow’s wings
- 1 treacherous fox
- 1 running rabbit
- 1 violent wolf
- 1 violent stag
- 1 flying goose
- 1 flying cock
- 1 strutting crow
- 1 swooping owl
- 1 blind dog
- 1 climbing monkey
- 1 liberated horse
- 1 oxcart
- 11 sparrow pawns
Each piece has its name in the form of two kanji
Kanji
Kanji are the adopted logographic Chinese characters hanzi that are used in the modern Japanese writing system along with hiragana , katakana , Indo Arabic numerals, and the occasional use of the Latin alphabet...
marked on its face. On the reverse side of each piece (other than crane kings, cloud eagles and treacherous foxes) are two other characters, often in a different color (e.g., red instead of black); this reverse side is turned up to indicate that the piece has been promoted during play. The pieces of the two sides do not differ in color, but instead each piece is shaped like a wedge, and faces forward, toward the opposing side. This shows who controls the piece during play.
Setup
| style="background:#ffdead" border="1" cellspacing="0"> | |||||||||||
| 11 | | 10 | | 9 | | 8 | | 7 | | 6 | | 5 | | 4 | | 3 | | 2 | | 1 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 風 馬 |
登 猿 |
鴟 行 |
鶏 飛 |
猛 鹿 |
靏 玉 |
猛 狼 |
鳫 飛 |
烏 行 |
盲 犬 |
牛 車 |
一 |
| 雲 鷲 |
燕 羽 |
飛 鷹 |
二 | ||||||||
| 萑 歩 |
萑 歩 |
萑 歩 |
走 兎 |
萑 歩 |
萑 歩 |
萑 歩 |
隠 狐 |
萑 歩 |
萑 歩 |
萑 歩 |
三 |
| 萑 歩 |
萑 歩 |
四 | |||||||||
| |
五 | ||||||||||
| |
六 | ||||||||||
| |
七 | ||||||||||
| 萑 歩 |
萑 歩 |
八 | |||||||||
| 萑 歩 |
萑 歩 |
萑 歩 |
隠 狐 |
萑 歩 |
萑 歩 |
萑 歩 |
走 兎 |
萑 歩 |
萑 歩 |
萑 歩 |
九 |
| 飛 鷹 |
燕 羽 |
雲 鷲 |
十 | ||||||||
| 牛 車 |
盲 犬 |
烏 行 |
鳫 飛 |
猛 狼 |
靏 玉 |
猛 鹿 |
鶏 飛 |
鴟 行 |
登 猿 |
風 馬 |
十 一 |
Each side places his pieces in the positions shown below, pointing toward the opponent.
- In the rank nearest the player:
- The crane king is placed in the center file.
- The violent wolf is placed in the adjacent file to the left of the crane king.
- The violent stag is placed in the file to the right of the crane king.
- The flying goose is placed in the file to the left of the violent wolf.
- The flying cock is placed in the file to the right of the violent stag.
- The strutting crow is placed in the file to the left of the flying goose.
- The swooping owl is placed in the file to the right of the flying cock.
- The blind dog is placed in the file to the left of the strutting crow.
- The climbing monkey is placed in the file to the right of the swooping owl.
- The oxcart is placed in the corner file to the left of the blind dog.
- The liberated horse is placed in the corner file to the right of the climbing monkey.
That is, the first rank is |OC|BD|SC|FG|VW|CK|VS|FC|SO|CM|LH|.
- In the second rank, each player places:
- The swallow’s wings in the same file as the crane king.
- The flying falcon in the same file as the blind dog.
- The cloud eagle in the same file as the climbing monkey.
- In the third rank, each player places:
- The treacherous fox in the same file as the flying goose.
- The running rabbit in the same file as the flying cock.
- Nine sparrow pawns are placed in the remaining files.
- In the fourth rank, each player places:
- A sparrow pawn in the same file as the treacherous fox.
- A sparrow pawn in the same file as the running rabbit.
Game play
The players alternate making a move, with Black moving first. (The traditional terms 'black' and 'white' are used to differentiate the sides during discussion of the game, but are no longer literally descriptive.) A move consists of moving a single piece on the board and potentially promoting that piece or displacing (capturing) an opposing piece. Each of these options is detailed below.Movement and capture
An opposing piece is captured by displacement: That is, if a piece moves to a square occupied by an opposing piece, the opposing piece is displaced and removed from the board. A piece cannot move to a square occupied by a friendly piece (meaning another piece controlled by the moving player).Each piece on the game moves in a characteristic pattern. Pieces move either orthogonally (that is, forward, backward, left, or right, in the direction of one of the arms of a plus sign, +), or diagonally (in the direction of one of the arms of a multiplication sign, ×).
If an oxcart or sparrow pawn, which cannot retreat or move aside, advances across the board until it can no longer move, it must promote.
Many pieces are capable of several kinds of movement, with the type of movement most often depending on the direction in which they move. The movement categories are:
Step movers
Some pieces move only one square at a time. (If a friendly piece occupies an adjacent square, the moving piece may not move in that direction; if an opposing piece is there, it may be displaced and captured.)The step movers are the crane king, violent wolf, violent stag, blind dog, climbing monkey, flying goose, flying cock, strutting crow, swooping owl and the 9 sparrow pawns on each side.
Limited ranging piece
The liberated horse and cloud eagle can move along a limited number (2 or 3) of free (empty) squares along a straight line in a certain directions. Other than the limited distance, they move like ranging pieces (see below).Jumping piece
The treacherous fox can jump, that is, it can pass over any intervening piece, whether friend or foe, with no effect on either.Ranging pieces
Many pieces can move any number of empty squares along a straight line, limited only by the edge of the board. If an opposing piece intervenes, it may be captured by moving to that square and removing it from the board. A ranging piece must stop where it captures, and cannot bypass a piece that is in its way. If a friendly piece intervenes, the moving piece is limited to a distance that stops short of the intervening piece; if the friendly piece is adjacent, it cannot move in that direction at all.The ranging pieces are the cloud eagle, flying falcon, running rabbit, swallow’s wings, liberated horse and oxcart.
Promotion
A player's promotion zone consists of the three farthest ranks, at the original line of the opponent's treacherous fox, running rabbit and beyond. If a piece crosses the board within the promotion zone, including moves into, out of, or wholly within the zone then that player may choose to promote the piece at the end of the turn. Promotion is effected by turning the piece over after it moves, revealing the name of its promoted rank.Promoting a piece has the effect of changing how that piece moves.
Individual pieces
Below are diagrams indicating each piece's movement. Pieces are paired with their promotion. Pieces with a grey heading start out in the game; those with a blue heading only appear on the board after promotion. Pieces with an asterisk ("*") only appear as promoted pieces.| Notation | |
| ○ | Steps a limited number of squares |
| ☆ | Jumps to a non-adjacent square, bypassing any intervening piece |
| │ | Ranges along a straight line, crossing any number of empty squares |
| ─ | |
| ＼ | |
| ／ | |
{| border="1" width="100%"
|-
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" width="50%" | Crane King 靏玉 kakugyoku
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" width="50%" | Cloud Eagle 雲鷲 unjū
|-
| Step: The crane king can step one square in any direction, orthogonal or diagonal.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 靏 || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
| colspan="2" |
{| border="1" frame="void"
|Ranging: The cloud eagle can move any number of free squares directly forward or backward.
Limited range: It can move one, two or three squares diagonally forward.
Step: It can step one square orthogonally sideways or diagonally backward.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:150px"
|- align=center
| width="14%" bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || width="14%" | || width="14%" | || width="14%" bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || width="14%" | || width="14%" | || width="14%" bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 鷲 || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| || || || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || || ||
|}
|}
|-
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" width="50%" | Treacherous Fox 隠狐 inko, onko
| colspan="2" width="50%" |
|-
| Step: The treacherous fox can move one square in the four diagonal directions; or, it can move one square orthogonally forward or backward.
Jump: It can jump to the second square in those directions.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" bgcolor="#f0f0b0" | ☆ || width="20%" | || width="20%" bgcolor="#f0f0b0" | ☆ || width="20%" | || width="20%" bgcolor="#f0f0b0" | ☆
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 狐 || ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| bgcolor="#f0f0b0" | ☆ || || bgcolor="#f0f0b0" | ☆ || || bgcolor="#f0f0b0" | ☆
|}
| colspan="2" | The treacherous fox does not promote.
|-
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" width="50%" | Flying Falcon 飛鷹 hiyō
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#d0d0f0" width="50%" | *Tenacious Falcon 鶏鷹 keiyō
|-
| Range: The flying falcon can move any number of free squares along any of the four diagonal directions.
Step: It can step one square forward.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ＼ || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ／
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ＼ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ／ ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 鷹 || ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ／ || || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ＼ ||
|- align=center
| bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ／ || || || || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ＼
|}
| Range: The tenacious falcon can move any number of free squares in the two forward diagonal directions; or, it can move any number of free squares directly forward or backward.
Step: It can move one square orthogonally sideways.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ＼ || width="20%" | || width="20%" bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || width="20%" | || width="20%" bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ／
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ＼ || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ／ ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || style="color:red" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 鶏
鷹 || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ／ || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ＼ ||
|- align=center
| bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ／ || || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ＼
|}
|-
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" width="50%" | Running Rabbit 走兎 sōto
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#d0d0f0" width="50%" | Treacherous fox 隠狐 inko, onko
|-
| Range: The running rabbit can move any number of free squares straight forward.
Step: It can step one square in one of the four diagonal directions; or, one square straight backward.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 兎 || ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
| Step: The treacherous fox can move one square in the four diagonal directions; or, it can move one square orthogonally forward or backward.
Jump: It can jump to the second square in those directions.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" bgcolor="#f0f0b0" | ☆ || width="20%" | || width="20%" bgcolor="#f0f0b0" | ☆ || width="20%" | || width="20%" bgcolor="#f0f0b0" | ☆
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || style="color:red" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 狐 || ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| bgcolor="#f0f0b0" | ☆ || || bgcolor="#f0f0b0" | ☆ || || bgcolor="#f0f0b0" | ☆
|}
|-
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" width="50%" | Violent Wolf 猛狼 mōrō
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#d0d0f0" width="50%" | *Bear's Eyes 熊眼 yūgan
|-
| Step: The violent wolf can step one square in one of the four orthogonal directions; or, one square diagonally forward, giving it six possibilities.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 狼 || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
| Step: The bear’s eyes can step one square in any direction, orthogonal or diagonal.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || style="color:red" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 熊 || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
|-
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" width="50%" | Violent Stag 猛鹿 mōroku
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#d0d0f0" width="50%" | *Roaming Boar 行猪 gyōcho
|-
| Step: The violent stag can step one square in one of the four diagonal directions; or, one square straight forward, giving it five possibilities.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 鹿 || ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
| Step: The roaming boar can step one square in any direction, orthogonal or diagonal, except directly backward.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || style="color:red" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 猪 || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
|-
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" width="50%" | Blind Dog 盲犬 mōken
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#d0d0f0" width="50%" | Violent Wolf 猛狼 mōrō
|-
| Step: The blind dog can step one square orthogonally sideways, directly backward, or diagonally forward.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 犬 || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
| Step: The violent wolf can step one square in one of the four orthogonal directions; or, one square diagonally forward, giving it six possibilities.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || style="color:red" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 狼 || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
|-
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" width="50%" | Climbing Monkey 登猿 tōen
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#d0d0f0" width="50%" | Violent Stag 猛鹿 mōroku
|-
| Step: The climbing monkey can step one square directly forward or backward, or one square diagonally forward, giving it four possibilities.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 猿 || ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
| Step: The violent stag can step one square in one of the four diagonal directions; or, one square straight forward, giving it five possibilities.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || style="color:red" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 鹿 || ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
|-
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" width="50%" | Flying Goose 鳫飛 ganhi
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#d0d0f0" width="50%" | Swallow's Wings 燕羽 en’u
|-
| Step: The flying goose can step one square directly forward or backward, or one square diagonally forward, giving it four possibilities.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 鳫 || ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
| Range: The swallow's wings can move any number of free squares orthogonally sideways.
Step: It can move one square orthogonally forward or backward.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ─ || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ─ || style="color:red" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 燕 || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ─ || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ─
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
|-
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" width="50%" | Flying Cock 鶏飛 keihi
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#d0d0f0" width="50%" | *Raiding Falcon 延鷹 en’yō
|-
| Step: The flying cock can step one square orthogonally sideways or diagonally forward.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 鶏 || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
| Range: The raiding falcon can move any number of free squares orthogonally forward, backward or diagonally forward.
Step: It can step one square orthogonally sideways.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || style="color:red" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 延 || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || ||
|}
|-
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" width="50%" | Swallow's Wings 燕羽 en’u
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#d0d0f0" width="50%" | *Gliding Swallow 燕行 engyō
|-
| Range: The swallow's wings can move any number of free squares orthogonally sideways.
Step: It can move one square orthogonally forward or backward.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ─ || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ─ || bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 燕 || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ─ || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ─
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
| Range: The gliding swallow can move any number of free squares along any of the four orthogonal directions.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || ||
|- align=center
| bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ─ || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ─ || style="color:red" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 行 || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ─ || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ─
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || ||
|}
|-
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" width="50%" | Strutting Crow 烏行 ukō
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#d0d0f0" width="50%" | Flying Falcon 飛鷹 hiyō
|-
| Step: The strutting crow can step one square directly forward or diagonally backward, giving it three possibilities.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 烏 || ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
| Range: The flying falcon can move any number of free squares along any of the four diagonal directions.
Step: It can step one square forward.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ＼ || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ／
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ＼ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ／ ||
|- align=center
| || || style="color:red" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 鷹 || ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ／ || || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ＼ ||
|- align=center
| bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ／ || || || || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | ＼
|}
|-
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" width="50%" | Swooping Owl 鴟行 shigyō
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#d0d0f0" width="50%" | Cloud Eagle 雲鷲 unjū
|-
| Step: The swooping owl can step one square directly forward or diagonally backward, giving it three possibilities.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 鴟 || ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
| colspan="2" |
{| {| border="1" frame="void"
|Ranging: The cloud eagle can move any number of free squares directly forward or backward.
Limited range: It can move one, two or three squares diagonally forward.
Step: It can step one square orthogonally sideways or diagonally backward.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:150px"
|- align=center
| width="14%" bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || width="14%" | || width="14%" | || width="14%" bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || width="14%" | || width="14%" | || width="14%" bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || style="color:red" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 鷲 || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| || || || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || || ||
|}
|}
|-
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" width="50%" | Liberated Horse 風馬 fūma
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#d0d0f0" width="50%" | *Heavenly Horse 天馬 temma
|-
| Range: The liberated horse can move any number of free squares along the forward orthogonal.
Limited range: It can step one or two squares directly backward.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 風 || ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|}
| Jump: The heavenly horse jumps at an angle intermediate between orthogonal and diagonal, amounting to one square forward plus one square diagonally forward; or, one square backward plus one square diagonally backward in a single motion, ignoring any intervening piece.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" bgcolor="#f0f0b0" | ☆ || width="20%" | || width="20%" bgcolor="#f0f0b0" | ☆ || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|- align=center
| || || style="color:red" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 天 || ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#f0f0b0" | ☆ || || bgcolor="#f0f0b0" | ☆ ||
|}
|-
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" width="50%" | Oxcart 牛車 gissha
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#d0d0f0" width="50%" | *Plodding Ox 歬牛 sengyū
|-
| Range: The oxcart can move any number of free squares straight forward.
An oxcart that reaches the furthest rank must promote.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#f0d0d0" | │ || ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 車 || ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
| Step: The plodding ox can step one square in any direction, orthogonal or diagonal.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || style="color:red" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 牛 || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
|-
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" width="50%" | Sparrow Pawn 萑歩 jakufu
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#d0d0f0" width="50%" | *Golden Bird 金鳥 kinchō
|-
| Step: The sparrow pawn can step one square forward.
A sparrow pawn that reaches the furthest rank must promote.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 歩 || ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
| Step: The golden bird can step one square in one of the four orthogonal directions; or, one square diagonally forward, giving it six possibilities.
|
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:107px"
|- align=center
| width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" | || width="20%" |
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || style="color:red" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | 金 || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ ||
|- align=center
| || || bgcolor="#d0d0f0" | ○ || ||
|- align=center
| || || || ||
|}
|}
Drops
Main article: Shogi, DropsDescriptions of wa shogi from historical texts make no mention that drops were ever used; however, many people in modern times enjoy playing this game with drops. The rules pertaining to drops are usually based on modern shogi.
Check and mate
When a player makes a move such that the opponent's crane king could be captured on the following move, the move is said to give check to the crane king; the crane king is said to be in check. If a player's crane king is in check and no legal move by that player will get the crane king out of check, the checking move is also mateCheckmate
Checkmate is a situation in chess in which one player's king is threatened with capture and there is no way to meet that threat. Or, simply put, the king is under direct attack and cannot avoid being captured...
, and effectively wins the game.
A player is not allowed to give perpetual check
Perpetual check
In the game of chess, perpetual check is a situation in which one player can force a draw by an unending series of checks. Such a situation typically arises when the player who is checking cannot deliver checkmate; while failing to continue the series of checks gives the opponent at least a chance...
.
Game end
A player who captures the opponent's crane king wins the game. In practice this rarely happens, as a player will resign when checkmated, as otherwise when loss is inevitable.A player who makes an illegal move loses immediately. (This rule may be relaxed in casual games.)
There are two other possible (but fairly uncommon) ways for a game to end: repetition (千日手 sennichite) and impasse (持将棋 jishōgi).
If the same position occurs four times with the same player to play, then the game is no contest. (Recall, however, the prohibition against perpetual check.) For two positions to be considered the same, the pieces in hand must be the same, as well as the position on the board.
The game reaches an impasse if both crane kings have advanced into their respective promotion zones and neither player can hope to mate the other or to gain any further material.
Game notation
The method used in English-language texts to express shogi moves was established by George Hodges in 1976. It is derived from the algebraic notation used for chessAlgebraic chess notation
Algebraic notation is a method for recording and describing the moves in a game of chess. It is now standard among all chess organizations and most books, magazines, and newspapers...
, but differs in several respects. Modifications have been made for wa shogi.
A typical example is SP-8f.
The first letter represents the piece moved: SP = sparrow pawn, OC = oxcart, LH = liberated horse, CM = climbing monkey, BD = blind dog, SO = swooping owl, SC = strutting crow, FC = flying cock, FG = flying goose, VS = violent stag, VW = violent wolf, RR = running rabbit, TF = treacherous fox, SW = swallow’s wings, FF = flying falcon, CE = cloud eagle and , CK = crane king.
Promoted pieces have a + added in front of the letter e.g., +SP for a golden bird (promoted sparrow pawn).
The designation of the piece is followed by a symbol indicating the type of move: - for an ordinary move or x for a capture.
Next is the designation for the square on which the piece lands.
This consists of a number representing the file and a lowercase letter representing the rank, with 1a being the top right corner (as seen from Black's point of view) and 11k being the bottom left corner.
(This method of designating squares is based on Japanese convention, which, however, uses Japanese numerals
Japanese numerals
The system of Japanese numerals is the system of number names used in the Japanese language. The Japanese numerals in writing are entirely based on the Chinese numerals and the grouping of large numbers follow the Chinese tradition of grouping by 10,000...
instead of letters. For example, the square 2c is denoted by 2三 in Japanese.)
If a move entitles the player to promote the piece, then a + is added to the end to signify that the promotion was taken, or an = to indicate that it was declined.
For example, FFx7c= indicates a flying falcon capturing on 7c without promoting.
In cases where the above notation would be ambiguous, the designation of the start square is added after the designation for the piece in order to make clear which piece is meant. This can only apply to golden birds.
Moves are commonly numbered as in chess.
Modern rules
In modern rules, Wa Shogi is played with drops. All other rules as the same as original rules.See also
- Shogi variantShogi variantMany variants of shogi have been developed over the centuries, ranging from some of the largest chess-type games ever played to some of the smallest...
- Tori shogiTori shogiTori shōgi is a variant of shogi attributed to Ōhashi Sōei in the late 18th century. The game is played on a 7×7 board and uses the drop rule; it's the only Japanese variant to do so...
- Chu shogiChu shogiChū shōgi is a board game native to Japan. It is similar to modern shogi in its rules and game play. Its name means "mid-sized shogi", from a time when there were three sizes of shogi variants in regular use. Chu shogi seems to have been developed in the early 14th century as a derivative of dai...
- Heian dai shogiHeian dai shogiHeian dai shogi large chess') is an early large board variant of shogi as it was played in the Heian period. The same 12th century document which describes the Heian form of shogi also describes this variant...
- Dai shogiDai shogiDai shōgi is a board game native to Japan. It is similar to standard shogi in its rules and game play. Dai shogi is only one of several large board shogi variants. Its name means large shogi, from a time when there were three sizes of shogi games...
- Tenjiku shogiTenjiku shogiTenjiku shogi is a large-board variant of shogi . The game dates back to the 15th or 16th century and was based on the earlier chu shogi, which itself was based on dai shogi.- Objective :The objective of the game is to capture the opponent's king and, if present, the crown prince, which counts as...
- Dai dai shogiDai dai shogiDaidai shōgi is a large board variant of shogi . The game dates back to the 15th century and is based on the earlier Dai shogi. Apart from its size, the major difference is in the range of the pieces and the “promotion by capture” rule. It is the smallest board variant to use this rule.-...
- Maka dai dai shogiMaka dai dai shogiMaka daidai shōgi is a large board variant of shogi . The game dates back to the 15th century and is based on dai dai shogi and the earlier dai shogi. The three Edo-era sources are not congruent in their descriptions of the pieces not found in smaller games...
- Tai shogiTai shogiTai shogi is a large-board variant of shogi . The game dates to the 15th century and is based on earlier largeboard shogi games...
- Taikyoku shogiTaikyoku shogiTaikyoku shōgi is a large board variant of shogi . The game was created around the mid 16th century and is based on earlier large board shogi games. Before the rediscovery of taikyoku shogi in 1997, tai shogi was believed to be the largest playable chess variant ever...