Tai shogi

Rules of the game

Objective

Game equipment

• 1 Emperor
• 1 Prince
• 1 Hook mover
• 2 Long-nosed goblins
• 1 Capricorn
• 2 Peacocks
• 2 Soaring eagles
• 2 Horned falcons
• 2 Queens
• 1 Rushing bird
• 2 Free demons
• 2 Free dream-eaters
• 2 Water buffalos
• 2 Flying oxen
• 2 Soldiers
• 2 Dragon kings
• 2 Dragon horses
• 1 Lion
• 2 Side chariots
• 2 Rooks
• 2 Bishops
• 2 White horses
• 2 Whales
• 2 Standard bearers
• 1 Vermillion sparrow
• 1 Turtle-snake
• 1 Blue dragon
• 1 White tiger
• 1 Right chariot
• 1 Left chariot
• 2 Side dragons
• 2 Doves
• 1 She-devil
• 1 Golden bird
• 1 Great dragon
• 2 White elephants
• 1 Lion dog
• 1 Wrestler
• 1 Guardian of the Gods
• 1 Buddhist devil
• 2 Golden deer
• 2 Silver hares
• 2 Fierce eagles
• 1 Old kite
• 2 Violent oxen
• 2 Flying dragons
• 2 Old rats
• 2 Enchanted badgers
• 2 Flying horses
• 2 Prancing stags
• 2 Violent bears
• 2 Side movers
• 2 Vertical movers
• 2 Reverse chariots
• 1 Phoenix
• 1 Kirin
• 2 Poison snakes
• 1 Northern barbarian
• 1 Southern barbarian
• 1 Eastern barbarian
• 1 Western barbarian
• 2 Blind bears
• 1 Drunken elephant
• 1 Neighbor king
• 2 Blind tigers
• 2 Blind monkeys
• 2 Ferocious leopards
• 2 Reclining dragons
• 2 Chinese cocks
• 2 Old monkeys
• 2 Evil Wolves
• 2 Angry boars
• 2 Cat swords
• 2 Coiled serpents
• 1 Deva
• 1 Dark spirit
• 1 Right general
• 1 Left general
• 2 Gold generals
• 2 Silver generals
• 2 Copper generals
• 2 Tile generals
• 2 Iron generals
• 2 Wood generals
• 2 Stone generals
• 2 Earth generals
• 2 Go betweens
• 2 Knights
• 2 Howling dogs
• 2 Donkeys
• 2 Ram's-head soldiers
• 2 Lances
• 25 Pawns

Table of pieces

Setup

Game play

Movement and capture

Step movers

Limited ranging pieces

Jumping pieces

Ranging pieces

Hook moves (changing tack)

Lion moves (multiple captures)

Individual pieces

• Ranging jump: The emperor can jump to any empty square anywhere on the board.
• *However, it can capture a piece only if that piece is unprotected.

• Step: The prince can step one square in any direction, orthogonal or diagonal.

• Hook move: The hook mover can move any number of free squares along one of the four orthogonal directions, then turn 90° and move any number of free squares in a perpendicular orthogonal direction.

• Hook move: The tengu can move any number of free squares along one of the four diagonal directions, then turn 90° and move any number of free squares in a perpendicular diagonal direction; or,
• Step: It can step one square in one of the four orthogonal directions.

• Hook move: The Capricorn can move any number of free squares along one of the four diagonal directions, then turn 90° and move any number of free squares along a perpendicular diagonal direction.

• Hook move: The peacock can move any number of free squares along one of the two forward diagonals, then turn 90° and move any number of free squares in a perpendicular diagonal direction; or,
• Limited range: It can move one or two squares in one of the two rearward diagonals.

• Range: The soaring eagle can move any number of free squares in a straight line in any direction except the forward diagonals; or,
• Lion move: It can move or jump one or two squares along either forward diagonal, potentially capturing two pieces. This power includes igui and skipping a turn, but not moving off the diagonal.

• Range: The horned falcon can move any number of free squares in a straight line in any direction except directly forwards; or,
• Lion move: It can move or jump one or two squares along a line directly forward, potentially capturing two pieces. This power includes igui and skipping a turn, but not moving off the orthogonal.

• Range: The queen can move any number of free squares along any one of the eight orthogonal or diagonal directions.

• Range: The rushing bird can move any number of free squares in any direction, orthogonal or diagonal, except directly backwards.

• Range: The free demon can move any number of free squares in the two forward diagonal directions; or,
• * It can move any number of free squares orthogonally sideways; or,
• Limited range: It can move one to five squares directly forward or backward.

• Range: The free dream-eater can move any number of free squares in the two forward diagonal directions; or,
• * It can move any number of free squares directly forward or backward; or,
• Limited range: It can move one to five squares orthogonally sideways.

• Range: The water buffalo can move any number of free squares in the four diagonal directions; or,
• * It can move any number of free squares orthogonally sideways; or,
• Limited range: It can move one or two squares directly forward or backward.

• Range: The flying ox can move any number of free squares along one of the four diagonal directions; or,
• * It can move any number of free squares orthogonally forward or backward.

• Range: The soldier can move any number of free squares along any of the four orthogonals; or,
• * It can move any number of free squares along a rear diagonal.

• Range: The dragon king can move any number of free squares along any of the four orthogonal directions; or,
• Step: It can move one square in any diagonal direction.

• Range: The dragon horse can move any number of free squares along any of the four diagonal directions; or,
• Step: It can move one square in any orthogonal direction.

• Range: The side chariot can move any number of free squares along one of the four orthogonal directions; or,
• Step: It can move one square diagonally behind.

• Range: The rook can move any number of free squares along any of the four orthogonal directions.

• Range: The bishop can move any number of free squares along any of the four diagonal directions.

• Area move/double capture: The lion can step one square in any direction up to twice in a turn. It can change directions after its first step, and is not restricted to following one of the eight orthogonal or diagonal directions. That is, it can also step to one of the in-between squares that a knight jumps to in Western chess.
• *Unlike the hook movers, it can continue after a capture on the first step, potentially capturing two pieces on each turn.
• *By moving back to its starting square, it can effectively capture a piece on an adjacent square without moving. This is called 居喰い igui "stationary feeding".
• *A similar move without capturing leaves the board unchanged, which is a way to pass a turn. This can only be done when there are empty adjacent squares.
• Jump: The lion can jump anywhere within two squares. This is equivalent to jumping in any of the eight diagonal or orthogonal directions, or making any of the jumps of a knight in Western chess.

• Range: The white horse can move any number of free squares directly forward or backward; or,
• * It can move any number of free squares diagonally forward.

• Range: The whale can move any number of free squares directly forward or backward; or;
• * It can move any number of free squares diagonally backward.

• Range: The standard bearer can move any number of free squares along any of the forward directions ; or,
• Limited range: It can move one or two squares along any of the other directions.

• Japanese Wikipedia:
• *Range: The vermillion sparrow can move any number of free squares along the forward right or rear left diagonals; or,
• *Step: It can step one square orthogonally or on the rear right diagonal. It has no move along the fore left diagonal.
• English-language sources:
• *Range: The vermillion sparrow can move any number of free squares diagonally or orthogonally forward; or,
• *Limited range: It can move one or two squares diagonally backward; or,
• *Step: It can move one square directly backward.

• English-language sources:
• *Range: It can move any number of free squares diagonally forward or directly backward; or,
• *Limited range: It can move one or two squares diagonally backward; or,
• *Step: It can step one square directly backward.
• Japanese Wikipedia:
• *Range: The turtle-snake can move any number of free squares diagonally forward to the right or diagonally backward to the left; or,
• *Step: It can step one square in any direction.

• Range: The blue dragon can move any number of free squares along the side orthogonals or the forward right diagonal; or,
• Limited range: It can move one or two squares directly forward or backward; or,
• Step: It can move one square diagonally forward to the left.

• Range: The white tiger can move any number of free squares directly forward or backward; or,
• * diagonally forward to the left; or,
• Step: It can move one or two squares orthogonally sideways; or,
• * It can step one square diagonally forward to the right.

• Range: The right chariot can move any number of free squares straight forward; or,
• * It can move any number of free squares along the forward right or rear left diagonals; or,
• Step: It can move one square directly backward.

• Range: The left chariot can move any number of free squares straight forward; or,
• * It can move any number of free squares along the forward left or rear right diagonals; or,
• Step: It can move one square directly backward.

• Range: The side dragon can move any number of free squares orthogonally forward or sideways; or,
• Step: It can move one square directly backward.

• Limited range: The dove can move one or two squares in one of the four orthogonal directions; or'
• * It can move one to five squares in one of the four diagonal directions.

• Limited range: The she-devil can move one or two squares along one of the four diagonal directions; or,
• * It can move one to five squares along one of the four orthogonal directions.

• Range: The golden bird can move any number of free squares directly forward or backward; or,
• 1st limited range: It can move one or two squares sideways; or,
• 2nd limited range: It can move one to three squares along one of the four diagonals.

• Range: The great dragon can move any number of free squares orthogonally sideways; or,
• Jump: It can jump to the second or third square orthogonally sideways; or,
• 1st limited range: It can move one or two squares directly forward or backward; or,
• 2nd limited range: It can move one to three squares along either of the rear diagonals.

• Range: The white elephant can move any number of free squares diagonally backward; or,
• Limited range: It can move one or two square in one of the other six diagonal or orthogonal directions.

• Lion move/triple capture: The lion dog can make a three-step lion move along any one of the eight orthogonal or diagonal directions. That is, unlike the lion itself, but like the soaring eagle and horned falcon, it is restricted to moving along a straight line and cannot move to the in-between squares. This power includes jumping, igui, and skipping a turn.
• *A piece may be captured on all three steps.
• *The lion dog may capture a piece on the first and second square, and then retreat to the first square. Or it may snatch a piece off the first square as in normal igui.
• *It may jump to the second square, and then continue to the third square, capturing up to two pieces. Or it may jump directly to the third square.
• *It is not required to take all three steps. However, like most powerful pieces, once it makes a capturing move it "promotes" and loses its powers.

• Limited range: The wrestler can move one to three squares along one of the four diagonal directions; or,
• Step: It can move one square orthogonally sideways.

• Limited range: The guardian of the gods can move one to three squares along one of the four orthogonal directions; or
• Step: It can step one square diagonally .

• Limited range: The Buddhist devil can move one to three squares diagonally forward; or,
• Step: It can move one square orthogonally sideways or directly backward.

• Range: The golden deer can move any number of free squares diagonally forward; or,
• Limited range: It can move one or two squares diagonally backward.

• Range: The silver hare can move any number of free squares diagonally backward; or,
• Limited range: It can move one or two squares diagonally forward.

• Limited range: The fierce eagle can move one or two squares orthogonally to either side or diagonally backwards; or,
• Step: It may step one square in any of the three forward directions.

• Limited range: The old kite can move one or two squares along one of the four orthogonal directions; or,
• Step: It can move one square diagonally forward.

• Limited range: The violent ox can move one or two squares in one of the four orthogonal directions.

• Step: The flying dragon can move one or two squares along one of the four diagonal directions.

• Limited range: The old rat can move one or two squares along a forward diagonal or the rear orthogonal.

• Limited range: The enchanted badger can move one or two squares orthogonally forward or sideways.

• Limited range: The flying horse can move one or two squares diagonally forward; or,
• Step: It can step one square in one of the four orthogonal directions.

• Limited range: The prancing stag can move one or two squares orthogonally sideways; or,
• Step: It can step one square in one of the four diagonal directions, or directly forward.

• Limited range: The violent bear can move one or two squares diagonally forward; or,
• Step: It can step one square orthogonally sideways.

• Range: The side mover can move any number of free squares orthogonally sideways; or,
• Step: It can move one square orthogonally forward or backward.

• Range: The vertical mover can move any number of free squares orthogonally forward or backward; or,
• Step: It can step one square orthogonally sideways.

• Step: The phoenix can step one square in one of the four orthogonal directions; or,
• Jump: It can jump to the second square in one of the four diagonal directions.

• Step: The kirin can step one square in one of the four diagonal directions; or,
• Jump: It can jump to the second square in one of the four orthogonal directions.

• Ranging: The reverse chariot can move any number of free squares directly forward or backward.

• English sources: The poisonous snake can jump to the second square directly forward or diagonally backward; or it can step one square to either side ;
• Japanese Wikipedia: The poisonous snake can step one or two squares directly forward or to either side; or it can step one square diagonally forward or directly backward.

• Limited range: The northern barbarian can move one or two squares diagonally forward; or,
• Step: It can step one square orthogonally sideways or diagonally backward.

• Limited range: The southern barbarian can move one or two squares diagonally backward; or,
• Step: It can step one square orthogonally sideways or diagonally forward.

• English-language sources:
• *Limited range: The eastern barbarian can move one or two squares directly forward or backward; or,
• *Step: It can step one square orthogonally sideways or diagonally forward.
• Japanese Wikipedia:
• *Limited range: The eastern barbarian can move one or two squares directly forward or backward; or,
• *Step: It can step one square to the right.

• Limited range: The western barbarian can move one or two squares orthogonally sideways; or,
• Step: It can step one square directly forward or backward, or diagonally forward.

• Range: The blind bear can move any number of free squares orthogonally backward; or,
• Step: It can step one square in one of the four diagonal directions.

• Step: The drunken elephant can step one square in any direction, orthogonal or diagonal, except directly backward.

• Step: The neighbor king can step one square in any direction, orthogonal or diagonal .

• Step: The blind tiger can step one square in any direction except orthogonally forward.

• Range: The free tiger moves in the same directions as a blind tiger, but with unlimited range.

• Step: The blind monkey can step one square in one of the four diagonal directions or either orthogonal sideways.

• Step: The leopard can move one square in the four diagonal directions; or,
• * It can move one square orthogonally forward or backward.

• Range: The free leopard moves in the same directions as a ferocious leopard, but with unlimited range.

• Step: The reclining dragon can step one square in one of the four orthogonal directions or diagonally backward.

• Range: The free dragon moves in the same directions as a reclining dragon, but with unlimited range.

• Step: The Chinese cock can step one square orthogonally sideways, directly backward, or diagonally forward.

• Step: The old monkey can step one square in one of the four diagonal directions, or directly backward.

• Step: The evil wolf can step one square orthogonally sideways or forward, or diagonally forward.

• Range: The free wolf moves in the same directions as an evil wolf, but with unlimited range.

• Step: The angry boar can step one square in one of the four orthogonal directions.

• Step: The cat sword can move one square in one of the four diagonal directions.

• Range: The free cat moves in the same directions as a cat sword, but with unlimited range.

• Step: The coiled serpent can step one square directly forward or backward, or diagonally backward.

• Range: The free serpent moves in the same directions as a coiled serpent, but with unlimited range.

• Step: It can step one square diagonally forward, in either direction; or,
• * One square orthogonally to the right; or,
• * One square diagonally backward to the left.

• Step: It can step one square diagonally forward, in either direction; or,
• * One square orthogonally to the left; or,
• * One square diagonally backward to the right.

• Step: The right general can step one square in any direction except orthogonally right. It is called the right general because it guards the right side of the board.

• Step: The left general can move one square in any direction except orthogonally left. It is called the left general because it guards the left side of the board.

• Step: The gold general can step one square in one of the four orthogonal directions; or,
• * One square diagonally forward, giving it six possibilities.

• Range: The free gold moves in the same directions as a gold general, but with unlimited range.

• Step: The silver general can step one square in one of the four diagonal directions; or,
• * One square straight forward, giving it five possibilities.

• Ranging: The free silver moves in the same directions as a silver general, but with unlimited range.

• Step: The copper general can step one square directly forward or backward, or one square diagonally forward, giving it four possibilities.

• Range: The free copper moves in the same directions as a copper general, but with unlimited range.

• Step: The tile general can step one square diagonally forward or directly backward, giving it three possibilities.

• Range: The free tile moves in the same directions as a tile general, but with unlimited range.

• Step: The iron general can move one square forward, orthogonally or diagonally, giving it three possibilities.

• Range: The free iron moves in the same directions as an iron general, but with unlimited range.

• Limited range: The wood general can move one or two squares along a forward diagonal.

• Step: The stone general can step one square diagonally forward, giving it two possibilities.

• Range: The free stone moves in the same directions as a stone general, but with unlimited range.

• Step: The earth general and go between can move one square directly forward or backward.

• Range: The free earth and free goer move in the same directions as the earth general and go-between, but with unlimited range.

• Jump: The knight jumps at an angle intermediate between orthogonal and diagonal, amounting to one square forward plus one square diagonally forward, in a single motion, ignoring any intervening piece. That is, it has a choice of two forward destinations.

• Range: The howling dog can move any number of free squares along the forward orthogonal; or,
• Step: It can step one square directly backwards.

• Step: The donkey can step one square orthogonally; or,
• Jump: It can jump to the second square directly forward or backward.

• Range: The ram's-head soldier can move any number of free squares along either forward diagonal.

• Range: The lance can move any number of free squares straight forward.

• Step: The pawn can step one square forward.

  Promotion

Pieces that only appear with promotion

• Lion move: The teaching king can move as a lion dog ; or,
• Range: It can move as a queen.

• Lion move: The Buddhist spirit can move either as a lion; or,
• Range: It can move as a queen.

• Lion move: The furious fiend can move as a lion anywhere within a two-square distance, including jumps, double capture, igui, and passing a turn; or,
• Limited range: It can move up to three free squares along one of the eight diagonals and orthogonals. HOWEVER - sources describe this piece as 'lion plus lion dog' - therefore some players do just this - a similar situation to the teaching king 'queen plus lion dog', both sets of move being available - a matter of choice.

• Range: The wizard stork can move any number of free squares along one of the four diagonal directions, or directly forward; or,
• Step: It can step one square directly backward.

• Range: The mountain witch can move any number of free squares along one of the four diagonal directions, or directly backward; or,
• Step: It can step one square directly forward.

• Range: The square mover can move any number of free squares along one of the four orthogonal directions; or,
• Step: It can step one square diagonally forward.

• Range: The fragrant elephant can move any number of free squares diagonally forward; or,
• Limited range: It can move one or two squares along one of the four orthogonal directions, or along either rear diagonal.

• Limited range 1: The great elephant can move one to five squares orthogonally sideways or along either rear diagonal; or,
• Limited range 2: It can move one to three squares diagonally forward, or directly forward or backward. HOWEVER some players keep the lion power on promotion so the extra 2 steps in the sideways and diagonally backwards directions are just 2 extra steps with no lion power. If the great elephant steps five steps then lion power can not be used - once again a choice of moves is offered.

• Range: The free bear can move any number of free squares along one of the four diagonal directions, or along either orthogonal sideways; or,
• Jump: It can perform a knight's jump forward.

• Range: The free boar can move any number of free squares along one of the four diagonal directions, or along either orthogonal sideways.

• Range: The bat can move any number of free squares along either of the rear diagonals, or directly forward.

  Check and mate

Game end

Game notation

Strategy

Piece values