Have you ever heard of Shogi chess? Shogi, a term that comes from Japanese, translates to “General’s Chess” or “Chinese Chess”. Let’s learn with Nhà cái Hi88 in detail about the rules of Japanese Shogi in the content below!
What are the rules of Japanese Shogi?
This is an intellectual game with the same origin as Chinese chess and chess, developed from the Indian board game Sathuranga from the 5th century. Known by another name as Japanese chess, Shogi offers a unique and diverse playing experience.
The special point that makes the Japanese Shogi rules different from chess is the Drop Rule, which allows players to reuse captured pieces from the opponent as their own pieces on the chessboard. This feature makes Shogi not only rich in tactics but also very flexible in how to play.
Based on historical documents, Shogi was introduced in Japan in the 12th century with a simple set of rules that did not include the Law of Military Release. It was not until the 16th century that this rule was officially applied, increasing the fun and strategy of the game.
The ultimate goal of Shogi is the same as in chess, which is to capture the opponent’s King, requiring players to have good strategy and judgment skills to win.
Chess board and pieces in Japanese Shogi rules
In Shogi, a popular intellectual game in Japan, the chess board has a special design with a square or rectangular shape. The characteristic of this chess board is the size of 9×9 cells, and is usually made from high quality wood. The special point is that each square on the chessboard is not distinguished by color, different from a regular chess board.
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Specifically about the chess pieces in
The chess pieces in the game Shogi are designed with a pentagonal shape, shaped like a wedge and uniform in size. Before starting the game, each player will be allocated a total of 20 chess pieces, with the specific number and type as follows:
- King: 1 piece
- Rook: 1 piece
- Bishop: 1 piece
- Golden General: 2 pieces
- Silver General: 2 pieces
- Code: 2 pieces
- Far away: 2 pieces
- Pawn: 9 pieces
A noteworthy point is that all chess pieces, regardless of faction, are identical in shape and size. To distinguish the owner of each piece, players need to pay attention to the direction the piece is facing. Each chess piece has two sides: one side is printed with 2 black Chinese characters, describing the name of the chess piece, and the other side contains 1 – 2 other Chinese characters, indicating that the chess piece has been upgraded (or is still called Phong level).
However, it should be noted that the King and Yellow General do not have red letters because they cannot be promoted. This sign sometimes causes difficulty for beginners learning chess because they are not familiar with Chinese characters.
How to arrange the board according to the rules of Japanese Shogi chess
When arranging the chessboard to prepare for a game of Shogi, the 20 chess pieces on each side will be arranged in a specific order:
- Last row, near the edge of the board: arranged symmetrically, with the King placed in the center. From outside to inside, the order is Huong Xa, Ma, Silver General, Golden General.
- Second row: contains only 2 chess pieces. The Bishop is placed on the player’s left-hand side, directly above the left Knight. The Rook is placed on the player’s right hand, positioned above the right Knight.
- Third row: for arranging 9 pawns, filling this row.
Latest updated Japanese Shogi chess rules
The board game Shogi is a challenging intellectual sport, requiring players not only to understand how to move pieces but also to know how to use the special rules of this game. Here are basic instructions on how to play Shogi:
Set up the game table
Each player starts with 20 pieces, arranged in a specific order on the board, with the black side of the pieces facing up and facing the opponent.
The two players are distinguished as Black (sente) and White (gote), but this is only to distinguish between the two sides and has nothing to do with the color of the pieces. The Black player goes first, followed by the White player and so on alternating.
Each piece must move according to specific rules about how it moves.
Basic rules of Japanese Shogi chess rules
Take a Piece: Like chess, a player can remove an opponent’s piece from the board by moving his piece into a square occupied by an opponent’s piece.
- Releasing pieces: This is a unique feature of Shogi chess. A player can drop a captured piece into an empty space on the board, turning that piece into his piece. However, the released piece is not allowed to capture the opponent’s piece immediately and is not promoted even if placed in the promotion area. The drop rule requires pieces to be capable of making legal moves in the future, and there are specific restrictions on pawns, knights, and rooks.
- Upgrade: When a piece moves into or through the upgrade zone (the last 3 rows on the other side of the board), that piece can be upgraded. The upgraded piece will turn red and have a new way of moving according to its new level. The captured piece will return to its original state.
- Check and checkmate: When a move threatens to capture the opponent’s King in the next move, that move is called “King Check.” The opponent needs to move the King or use another piece to protect the King. If no move can be made to escape this situation, that move is called “Checkmate,” and the person who causes the “Checkmate” situation will be the winner.
Determining winning and losing in Japanese Shogi chess rules
The player who captures the opponent’s King is the winner. However, in reality, one side often admits defeat when they realize they can no longer win.
The game can end in a draw if the position repeats or if both Kings exist in the promotion zone without the possibility of checkmating the opponent. In case of a tie, the scoring of the pieces will determine the winner.
Conclude
In short, Shogi Chess is a tactical game and requires high concentration as well as the ability to predict and strategize on the part of the player. Understanding the rules and regulations of Japanese Shogi that Hi88 has shared as well as knowing how to apply them flexibly will help you improve your chances of winning.