Transfers from chess
- Checking and escaping the King
- Rook and Bishop lines
- Not hanging pieces
- Looking one or two moves ahead
Chess and shogi: two ways to practise strategic thinking
If you know chess, much of your board vision transfers. Shogi then adds promotion choices and the drop rule, asking you to review the position and adapt your plan.
What transfers — and what changes
| Topic | Chess | Shogi |
|---|---|---|
| Board | 8×8 | 9×9 (squares slightly taller than wide) |
| Army | 16 per side | 20 per side (40 total) |
| King | King | King (王 / 玉) — same job |
| Queen | Yes | No Queen — Rook, Bishop, Golds, Silvers |
| Captures | Leave the game | Join your hand; can be dropped |
| Promotion | Mostly pawns (to Queen etc.) | Many pieces in enemy 3 ranks; King/Gold never |
| Look | Shape / color | Kanji + tip direction (same color wood) |
| First move | White | Sente (Black) |
| Pawn capture | Diagonal | Straight forward (same as move) |
| Castling | Yes (King + Rook special move) | No castling — build a “castle” by hand with Golds/Silvers |
| En passant | Yes | No |
| Stalemate | Draw | Different end rules; beginners focus on checkmate first |
New in shogi
- Hand pieces = future resources
- Sudden checks from drops
- Promotion judgment
- Recovery after “losing” material
Quick explanation: “The goal is familiar: trap the King. The difference is that a captured piece joins your hand and can return on your side.”
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