Controls

You play by moving your pieces toward the enemy king, tapping a piece and then its destination. Captured pieces go into your hand for later use.

The drop rule is what sets Shogi apart:

• Moving and promoting works much like a compact chess: most pieces step toward the enemy, and many can promote to a stronger version once they reach the far part of the board, the enemy camp.
• Dropping is the signature rule. A piece you've captured joins your hand, and on a later turn you can drop it onto almost any empty square as your move, bringing it back into play on your side.

Because captured pieces return via drops, material never leaves the game, so attacks stay fueled and positions stay sharp.

You win by checkmating the enemy king. Against the computer, the difficulty rises across eight levels.

Tips

• Value the pieces in your hand. Captured pieces you hold are a reserve you can drop into play, so think of them as part of your attacking force, ready to reinforce wherever you need them.
• Use drops to attack the king. Dropping a piece right next to the enemy king can create sudden threats that come from nowhere, so save captured pieces for decisive strikes on the king's position.
• Build a castle for your king. Shogi players fortify their king with a cluster of defending pieces called a castle, so investing early moves in this shelter protects you from the relentless attacks the drop rule enables.
• Don't hoard pieces too long. Pieces sitting in your hand do nothing until dropped, so while timing matters, holding a strong reserve indefinitely wastes its potential, so look for the right moment to deploy it.
• Be careful what you give away. A piece you lose becomes ammunition for your opponent, so avoid trades that hand them exactly the piece they need to drop for an attack on your king.
• Attack relentlessly. Because material comes back via drops, quiet play rarely wins, so keep applying pressure and pressing your attack, since a passive position is easily overrun.

Frequently asked questions