Detail of the Pieces
Contents
玉(King) or 王
A 玉(king) is called "gyoku
", and a 王(king) is called "ou" in Japanese. These are the same piece, but are often used 玉(king) by one player and 王(king) by the other.
A 玉(king) can move one square in all directions. It is the most important pieces in shogi because you will lost in the game when your 玉 is gotten by your opponent, but it cannot move so fast, so you need to move it into safety zone earlier.
Note: 玉(king) can go to blue cells.
| Form | Formal Name | Abbr. | English Name | Formal Name (promoted) | Abbr. (promoted) | English Name (promoted) | Number of Pieces |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 or  |
玉将(gyokusho) or 王将(osho) |
玉(gyoku) or 王(o) |
King | - | - | - | each 1 |
飛(Rook) and 龍(Promoted Rook)
飛(Rook)
A 飛(rook) is called "hi" in Japanese, and is classified as "major piece", which can move far away. It can move freely any orthogonal directions as long as there is no other pieces. However it cannot move diagonal directions at all.
Note: 飛(rook) can go to blue cells.
龍(Promoted Rook)
The 飛(rook) can promote to a 龍(dragon), which is called "ryu" in Japanese. It can move not only freely any orthogonal directions but also one square any diagonal directions. It is very strong, but please don't make much of it than 玉(king).
Note: 龍(promoted rook) can go to blue cells.
| Form | Formal Name | Abbr. | English Name | Formal Name (promoted) | Abbr. (promoted) | English Name (promoted) | Number of Pieces |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
飛車(hisha) |
飛(hi) |
Rook | 龍王(ryuo) |
龍(ryu) |
Dragon | each 1 |
角(Bishop) and 馬(Horse)
角(Bishop)
A 角(bishop)is called "kaku" in Japanese, and is also classfied as "major piece." It can move freely any diagonal directions as long as there is no other pieces. However it cannot move orthogonal directions at all.
Note: 角(bishop) can go to blue cells.
馬(Horse)
The 角(bishop) can promote to a 馬(horse). 馬(Horse) can move not only freely any diagonal directions but also one square any orthogonal directions. It is sometimes used in defence.
Note: 馬(horse) can go to blue cells.
| Form | Formal Name | Abbr. | English Name | Formal Name (promoted) | Abbr. (promoted) | English Name (promoted) | Number of Pieces |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
角行(kakugyo) |
角(kaku) |
Bishop | 龍馬(ryuma) |
馬(uma) |
Horse | each 1 |
I'll introduce minor pieces. Pieces except 玉(king) and major pieces are called "minor pieces."
金(Gold General)
A 金(gold general) is called "kin" in Japanese, and is classfied as "minor piece." It can move one square in four orthogonal directions or in diagonal forward. It can move many directions, so it is often used to deffend your own 玉(king) or to mate the opponent king.
Note: 金(gold general) can go to blue cells.
| Form | Formal Name | Abbr. | English Name | Formal Name (promoted) | Abbr. (promoted) | English Name (promoted) | Number of Pieces |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
金将(kinsho) |
金(kin) |
Gold General | - | - | - | each 2 |
銀(Silver General) and 成銀(Promoted Silver General)
銀(Silver General)
A 銀(silver general) is called "gin" in Japanese. Movement of 銀(silver general) resembles that of 金(gold general), so be careful not to confuse one with the other. 銀(silver general) can move one square directly forward or in diagonal forward as same as 金(gold general), but in other 5 directions, 銀(silver general) cannot move in the directions 金(gold general) can move and 銀(silver general) can move in the directions 金(gold general) cannot move.
Note: 銀(silver general) can go to blue cells.
成銀(Promoted Silver General)
The 銀(silver) can promote to a 成銀(promoted silver), which is called "narigin" in Japanese. The 成銀 has the same motion as 金.
Note: 成銀(promoted silver general) can go to blue cells.
| Form | Formal Name | Abbr. | English Name | Formal Name (promoted) | Abbr. (promoted) | English Name (promoted) | Number of Pieces |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
銀将(ginsho) |
銀(gin) |
Silver General | 成銀(narigin) |
- | Promoted Silver | each 2 |
桂(Knight) and 成桂(Promoted Knight)
桂(Knight)
A 桂(knight) is called "kei" in Japanese. 桂(knight) has unique movements. 桂(knight) moves to two squares forward plus one square left or right. Only 桂(knight) can jump across other pieces.
Note: 桂(knight) can go to blue cells. Notice that 桂(knight) moves beyond 歩(pawn)s.
成桂(Promoted Knight)
The 桂(knight) can promote to a 成桂(promoted knight), which is called "narikei" in Japanese. 成桂(promoted knight) is the same motion as 金(gold general).
Note: 成桂(promoted knight) can go to blue cells.
| Form | Formal Name | Abbr. | English Name | Formal Name (promoted) | Abbr. (promoted) | English Name (promoted) | Number of Pieces |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
桂馬(keima) |
桂(kei) |
Knight | 成桂(narikei) |
- | Promoted Knight | each 2 |
香(Lance) and 成香(Promoted Lance)
香(Lance)
香(lance) is called "kyo" in Japanese. 香 can move directly forward as long as there is no other pieces.
Note: 香(lance) can go to blue cells.
成香(Promoted Lance)
The 香(lance) can promote to a 成香(promoted lance), which is called "narikyo" in Japanese. 成香(promoted lance) is the same motion as 金(gold general).
Note: 成香(promoted lance) can go to blue cells.
| Form | Formal Name | Abbr. | English Name | Formal Name (promoted) | Abbr. (promoted) | English Name (promoted) | Number of Pieces |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
香車(kyosha) |
香(kyo) |
Lance | 成香(narikyo) |
- | Promoted Lance | each 2 |
歩(Pawn) and と金(Promoted Pawn)
歩(Pawn)
歩(pawn) is called "fu" in Japanese. 歩 can only move one square directly forward. Beginners tend to make light of 歩, but there are many oppotunities in which 歩 works usefully for large number of pawns.
Note: 歩(pawn) can go to blue cell.
と金(Promoted Pawn)
The 歩(pawn) can promote to a と金(promoted pawn), which is called "tokin" in Japanese. と金 is the same motion as 金. Even when a promoted pawn is captured, it come back just a pawn in opponent's hand, so promoted pawn is useful for the owner.
Note: と金(promoted pawn) can go to blue cells.
| Form | Formal Name | Abbr. | English Name | Formal Name (promoted) | Abbr. (promoted) | English Name (promoted) | Number of Pieces |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
歩兵(fuhyo) |
歩(fu) |
Pawn | 成歩(narifu) |
と金(tokin) |
Promoted Pawn | each 9 |
