Learn › Unit 1

The board and pieces 盤と駒

The 9×9 board, who moves first, and how each of the eight pieces moves.

1. The board and setup

   Shogi's 9×9 board, the twenty pieces each side starts with, who moves first, and how squares are named on this site.

2. The king

   How the shogi king moves — one square in any direction — and why it can never step into check.

3. The rook

   The rook slides any distance along its rank or file, like a chess rook. How blockers and captures limit it.

4. The bishop

   The bishop slides any distance diagonally, like a chess bishop.

5. The gold general

   The gold moves one square in six directions — every way except diagonally backwards. The king's best defender.

6. The silver general

   The silver moves one square forwards or diagonally — five directions, never sideways or straight back.

7. The knight

   The shogi knight jumps two squares forwards and one to the side — only forwards, and it can jump over pieces.

8. The lance

   The lance slides any distance straight forwards — a rook that can only go one way.

9. The pawn

   The shogi pawn moves and captures one square straight forwards — no double step, no diagonal capture.

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