| The game of Japanese Chess is called "Shogi" in | | | | bring a captured piece into play by "dropping" it onto |
| Japan. Shogi shares some similarities with Chess and | | | | one of the empty spaces on the board. Because of |
| both games are believed to be derived from the Indian | | | | this innovation the pieces are not distinguished by |
| game of Chaturanga. However, there are several | | | | colour as they are in Chess, Igo, or other games. |
| unique features to Shogi that distinguish it from Chess. | | | | A game of Shogi tends to take longer to get going |
| The first couple of things Chess players are likely to | | | | than a game of Chess as some of the pieces have |
| notice about Shogi are the size of the board and the | | | | limited movement ranges and also because players |
| number of pieces. Chess players who are used to | | | | commonly prefer to build a defensive organization |
| playing with sixteen pieces each on an 8 x 8 board | | | | around the King before attacking. |
| may be surprised to find that Shogi is played on a 9x9 | | | | Nevertheless, Shogi has an opening, middle and end |
| board and that each player starts with twenty pieces. | | | | phase as does Chess, but the "drop" rule gives Shogi |
| Also, whereas in Chess the pieces stand upright like | | | | a more open-ended character as the board can |
| soldiers, in Shogi they lie flat on the board and are | | | | suddenly fill up with pieces again if the players engage |
| wedge shaped, with the sharp end of the wedge | | | | in a battle of "drop" and "counter-drop". |
| pointing forwards so that the players can tell at a | | | | Perhaps the drop rule developed from the |
| glance whose side each piece is on! | | | | understanding that many an enemy may be turned into |
| The rank of a piece is indicated by its size and by one | | | | a friend, especially after he has been captured. A |
| or two Japanese characters painted on its upper face. | | | | Shogi piece dropped deep inside enemy territory can |
| Depending on which piece is being played, when it | | | | cause major disruption. It is rather like having a hostile |
| advances to one of the back three rows it may be | | | | Ninja fighter suddenly appear armed to the teeth in the |
| promoted. This is done by turning the piece over to | | | | Daimyo's bedchamber! |
| reveal a different character that indicates its new | | | | Shogi offers an early example of how a foreign |
| status. | | | | invention is introduced into Japan and modified and |
| Chess players will be surprised to learn that in Shogi | | | | refined to become something unique to the Japanese. |
| captured pieces may be "dropped" back on the board | | | | In recent years Shogi has begun to attract a following |
| and used by the player who captured them! This is a | | | | outside of Japan, in China, Europe and America. If you |
| unique feature of the Japanese game. After capturing | | | | enjoy playing Chess, I recommend that you try playing |
| a piece the player sets it aside (or place it on a tray | | | | Shogi and experience something of the unique spirit |
| especially designed for captured pieces). A player who | | | | the Japanese have imparted to this ancient family of |
| has one or more captured pieces in hand may choose | | | | games. |
| on his turn to move a piece that is on the board, or to | | | | |