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SHOGI RULES

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Introduction to Shogi Origins of Shogi Shogi (or Japanese Chess) is a board game played by two players. The modern game of Shogi dates from the sixteenth century. It has a large following in Japan, where it is played by over 10 million people, and supports a number of professional players. The ability to return captured pieces to the board adds greatly to the appeal, scope and depth of the game. Basic Gameplay The object of the game is to capture the opponent's King. Shogi is played on a nine-by-nine board. The vertical rows are called files, the horizontal ones ranks or just rows. Each player has twenty pieces: one King, two Gold Generals, two Silver Generals, two kNights, two Lances, one Rook, one Bishop and nine Pawns. The player moving up the board and making the first move is referred to as black and his opponent white, although in Shogi sets all pieces have the same colour. They are differentiated only in direction: pieces pointing away from a player are his. The pieces lie flat on the board and have their Japanese name written on them. The Pieces Each piece has its own way of moving across the board: King One Step in any direction per move Gold General One Step per move anyway except diagonally backward. Silver General One Step per move forwards or diagonally. Knight One Step to the left or right, and two steps forward. (The only piece which may jump over pieces) Rook Moves vertically or horizontally for any distance Bishop Moves diagonally for any distance Lance Moves forward any distance Pawn Moves one step forward Promotion The three rows furthest away from a player are called the promotion zone. Besides the King and the Gold General, any piece can be promoted to a more powerful piece when it makes a move completely or partly in the promotion zone. So, when a piece moves into, out of or fully inside the promotion zone it may be promoted upon completion of its move. Promotion is optional, provided that the piece still can make a legal move in case it is not promoted: if a Pawn or a Lance move to the last row, or a Knight moves to either of the last two rows, it must be promoted. Silver General One Step per move anyway except diagonally backward. Knight One Step per move anyway except diagonally backward. Rook (Dragon King) In addition to the moves of the unpromoted Rook can move one step in the diagonal directions. Bishop (Dragon Horse) In addition to the moves of the unpromoted Bishop can move one step horizontally or vertically. Lance One Step per move anyway except diagonally backward. Pawn One Step per move anyway except diagonally backward. Captures A captured piece is removed from the board and is held by the capturing player. The held piece (which is said to be 'in hand') may subsequently be 'dropped' back into play on the side of the player who made the capture. All promoted pieces revert to their unpromoted ranks when captured. Drops Instead of a move a player may elect to 'drop' a captured piece held back into play. A piece dropped inside the player's Promotion Zone is not promoted until after it has made a further move on the board. In general, a piece held in hand may be re-entered on any vacant square, except when: 1. It has no legal move. (ie: a Pawn or Lance can not be dropped on the last rank, and a Knight can not be dropped on either of the last two ranks). 2. When you drop a pawn in any file (column of squares) already containing an unpromoted Pawn of the same side. 3. When you drop a pawn directly in front of the opposing 'King' so as to give you instant 'Checkmate'.