Features / 30 games featured
Shogi Variants and Rule Differences
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Last updated 2026-10-19 · Run by Qdan, Inc.
Explore 28 shogi games plus Chess and Xiangqi, comparing smaller boards, two moves per turn and unseen opposing pieces.
Compare boards, whether captured pieces can return to play (drops), winning goals and visible information by group, then follow Play on a card to its game page.
Three Games to Try First
- Minishogi
Try captured-piece drops on a compact 5×5 board.
- Hasami Shogi
Try sandwich captures with pieces that all move alike.
- Check Shogi
Aim for the king: the first check wins.
Choose Your First Shogi Game
Minishogi offers familiar moves and captured-piece drops on a 5×5 board with only six pieces per player. If you would prefer every piece to move alike, Hasami Shogi uses pawns that slide along rows and columns. Both have an interactive introduction; once comfortable, try standard shogi on its 9×9 board.
- Standard Shogi1 game
Compare the Rules
This comparison focuses on BGJ’s default settings and main winning goals. Each game’s BGJ rules link covers details such as resignation and draws.
| Game | Players / time | Board size | Reuse of captured pieces | Main winning goal | Visible information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shogi | 2 players, About 20 min | 9×9 | Yes | Checkmate the king | Board visible |
| Chu Shogi | 2 players, About 60 min | 12×12 | No | Capture king and any prince | Board visible |
| Dai Shogi | 2 players, About 90 min | 15×15 | No | Capture king and any prince | Board visible |
| Tori Shogi | 2 players, About 15 min | 7×7 | Yes | Checkmate the phoenix | Board visible |
| Minishogi | 2 players, About 10 min | 5×5 | Yes | Checkmate the king | Board visible |
| Check Shogi | 2 players, About 5 min | 9×9 | Yes | Give check first | Board visible |
| No-Drop Shogi | 2 players, About 15 min | 9×9 | No | Checkmate the king | Board visible |
| No-Pawn Shogi | 2 players, About 15 min | 9×9 | Yes | Checkmate the king | Board visible |
| Annan Shogi | 2 players, About 20 min | 9×9 | Yes | Checkmate the king | Board visible |
| Cylinder Shogi | 2 players, About 20 min | 9×9 | Yes | Checkmate the king | Board visible |
| Double-Move Shogi | 2 players, About 10 min | 9×9 | Yes | Capture the king | Board visible |
| Must-Capture Shogi | 2 players, About 10 min | 9×9 | Yes | Checkmate the king | Board visible |
| Capital Return Shogi | 2 players, About 15 min | 9×9 | Up to 4 (default) | Mate / opponent exceeds hand limit | Board visible |
| Pawn Race Shogi | 2 players, About 8 min | 9×9 | Yes | 5 pawn captures / mate | Board visible |
| Rock-Paper-Scissors Shogi | 2 players, About 20 min | 9×9 | Yes | Checkmate the king | Board visible; choices revealed together |
| Card Shogi | 2 players, About 15 min | 9×9 | Yes | Mate / opponent cannot use drawn file | Board visible; next card hidden |
| Kokose Shogi | 2 players, About 20 min | 9×9 | Yes | Checkmate the king | Board visible |
| Eight-Way Knight Shogi | 2 players, About 20 min | 9×9 | Yes | Checkmate the king | Board visible |
| Untakeable Silver | 2 players, About 15 min | 9×9 | Yes | Checkmate the king | Board visible |
| Lion King Shogi | 2 players, About 10 min | 9×9 | Yes | Checkmate the king | Board visible |
| Hidden Setup Shogi | 2 players, About 20 min | 9×9 | Yes | Checkmate the king | Setups hidden until ready |
| Masked Shogi | 2 players, About 20 min | 9×9 | Yes | Capture the masked target | Masked target hidden |
| Tsuitate Shogi | 2 players, About 20 min | 9×9 | Yes; opponent’s hand hidden | Mate / opponent makes 10 fouls | Opponent’s pieces hidden |
| Four-Player Shogi | 4 players, About 25 min | 9×9 | Yes | Rank by mates and tie-breaks | Board visible |
| Hasami Shogi | 2 players, About 10 min | 9×9 | No | Capture 5 pieces first | Board visible |
| Flanking Shogi | 2 players, About 15 min | 9×9 | Yes | Sandwich the king | Board visible |
| Gunjin Shogi | 2 players, About 20 min | 8×8 | No | Take headquarters / immobilize opponent | Enemy identities hidden |
| Shogi Kuzushi | 2–4 players, About 10 min | Pile of pieces | No | Most pieces removed | Board visible |
| Chess | 2 players, About 20 min | 8×8 squares | No drops | Checkmate the king | Board visible |
| Xiangqi | 2 players, About 25 min | 9×10 intersections | No drops | Mate the general / leave no legal move | Board visible |
Standard Shogi
In standard shogi, captured pieces can return to play as you pursue the opposing king. Use its 9×9 board and winning goal as a baseline for comparison.
Shogi
The starting point for this comparison: each player begins with 20 pieces. Captured pieces can be dropped back onto the board on your side, and the aim is to checkmate the opposing king.
- Board size
- 9×9
- Reuse of captured pieces
- Yes
- Main winning goal
- Checkmate the king
BGJ rules [2]
Historical Games: Chu, Dai and Tori Shogi
Compare Chu Shogi, Dai Shogi and Tori Shogi as implemented on BGJ. The Japan Shogi Association’s historical account discusses Dai Shogi and Chu Shogi, but this section is not a chronology of their invention. [1]
Chu Shogi
Each player has 46 pieces on a board larger than standard shogi. There are no drops; the lion can move twice in one turn, and you capture the opposing king and any crown prince.
- Board size
- 12×12
- Reuse of captured pieces
- No
- Main winning goal
- Capture king and any prince
BGJ rules [3]
Dai Shogi
A larger board holds 65 pieces of 29 types per player. Captured pieces are removed rather than dropped; capture the opposing king and any crown prince. BGJ leaves special restrictions on lion captures off by default.
- Board size
- 15×15
- Reuse of captured pieces
- No
- Main winning goal
- Capture king and any prince
BGJ rules [4]
Tori Shogi
Bird-named pieces move on a 7×7 board, with the phoenix serving as king. Drops are allowed, with up to two swallows per file; the falcon and swallow must promote on moves into, within or out of the farthest two ranks.
- Board size
- 7×7
- Reuse of captured pieces
- Yes
- Main winning goal
- Checkmate the phoenix
BGJ rules [5]
Shogi Variants: Different Boards, Pieces or Goals
Choose by board size, winning goal, turns, movement or visible information. Cards and comparisons describe BGJ’s defaults; each game page explains adjustable rules.
2–4 players
5–25 min
- Quick to learn4 games
- Learn step by step10 games
- More to learn6 games
- Mostly skill14 games
- Luck and skill4 games
- Mostly luck2 games
Player counts and times span the smallest to largest values in this group. Learning and luck describe each game, rather than a quality score.
Minishogi
A 5×5 board and six pieces per player keep the familiar moves and drops in a smaller space. The promotion zone is just one rank, and repetition awards the win to the second player.
- Board size
- 5×5
- Reuse of captured pieces
- Yes
- Main winning goal
- Checkmate the king
BGJ rules [6]
Check Shogi
Start from the standard position, but the first player to give check wins. Instead of playing all the way to checkmate, create a threat to capture the opposing king next move.
- Board size
- 9×9
- Reuse of captured pieces
- Yes
- Main winning goal
- Give check first
BGJ rules [7]
No-Drop Shogi
Captured pieces leave the game, so there are no drops. Movement and promotion follow standard shogi, but you must build a mating attack with the pieces left on the board. Kings alone give a draw.
- Board size
- 9×9
- Reuse of captured pieces
- No
- Main winning goal
- Checkmate the king
BGJ rules [8]
No-Pawn Shogi
Remove all nine pawns from each side of the standard position. Rooks, bishops and lances have open lines much earlier; other captured pieces can still be dropped back onto the board.
- Board size
- 9×9
- Reuse of captured pieces
- Yes
- Main winning goal
- Checkmate the king
BGJ rules [9]
Annan Shogi
A piece with a friendly piece immediately behind it takes that piece’s movement. The setup and drops match standard shogi, but moving a supporting piece changes the attack in front of it.
- Board size
- 9×9
- Reuse of captured pieces
- Yes
- Main winning goal
- Checkmate the king
BGJ rules [10]
Cylinder Shogi
The left and right edges join: moves crossing one edge continue from the other. The top and bottom stay separate. Rook and bishop attacks that would stop at an edge can reach the king from the other side.
- Board size
- 9×9
- Reuse of captured pieces
- Yes
- Main winning goal
- Checkmate the king
BGJ rules [11]
Double-Move Shogi
The first player opens with one move, then each turn has two moves. You may move the same piece twice, and victory comes from actually capturing the king rather than checkmating it.
- Board size
- 9×9
- Reuse of captured pieces
- Yes
- Main winning goal
- Capture the king
BGJ rules [12]
Must-Capture Shogi
Whenever a capture is available, you must choose a capturing move. BGJ makes an exception when answering check by default. Offering a piece to force a capture becomes part of the attack.
- Board size
- 9×9
- Reuse of captured pieces
- Yes
- Main winning goal
- Checkmate the king
BGJ rules [13]
Capital Return Shogi
Holding more than four captured pieces loses immediately. Captures must be balanced with drops to keep your hand below the limit; the setting can raise that limit to five.
- Board size
- 9×9
- Reuse of captured pieces
- Up to 4 (default)
- Main winning goal
- Mate / opponent exceeds hand limit
BGJ rules [14]
Pawn Race Shogi
Capture five opposing pawns to win immediately. Promoted pawns count too, and dropping a captured pawn does not reduce your total. Pawn hunting adds another route to the usual mating goal.
- Board size
- 9×9
- Reuse of captured pieces
- Yes
- Main winning goal
- 5 pawn captures / mate
BGJ rules [15]
Rock-Paper-Scissors Shogi
Play rock–paper–scissors before each move; the winner moves. Turns need not alternate, so one player may move several times in a row. A player in check answers without another round.
- Board size
- 9×9
- Reuse of captured pieces
- Yes
- Main winning goal
- Checkmate the king
BGJ rules [16]
Card Shogi
Draw a card numbered 1–9, then move or drop onto that file. Answering check lifts the card restriction. Under BGJ’s default setting, having no move on the drawn file loses the game.
- Board size
- 9×9
- Reuse of captured pieces
- Yes
- Main winning goal
- Mate / opponent cannot use drawn file
BGJ rules [17]
Kokose Shogi
Once per game, declare “kokose” before moving. After your own move, choose your opponent’s next move as well. Outside that one opportunity, play alternates as in standard shogi.
- Board size
- 9×9
- Reuse of captured pieces
- Yes
- Main winning goal
- Checkmate the king
BGJ rules [18]
Eight-Way Knight Shogi
By default, the stronger side gives up its rook, bishop and both lances, but its knights jump in eight directions. The other side uses standard pieces and moves; a setting changes both sides’ knights.
- Board size
- 9×9
- Reuse of captured pieces
- Yes
- Main winning goal
- Checkmate the king
BGJ rules [19]
Untakeable Silver
One side starts without its rook, bishop, golds and lances, while its two original silvers cannot be captured. Fewer starting pieces are balanced by silvers that can advance without being taken.
- Board size
- 9×9
- Reuse of captured pieces
- Yes
- Main winning goal
- Checkmate the king
BGJ rules [20]
Lion King Shogi
One side begins with only a king and nine pawns. Its lion king can reach squares within two steps, or make two successive one-square moves. Captured pieces can still be dropped to help build a mating attack.
- Board size
- 9×9
- Reuse of captured pieces
- Yes
- Main winning goal
- Checkmate the king
BGJ rules [21]
Hidden Setup Shogi
Keep pawns on the third rank and arrange the other eleven pieces freely in your back two ranks. Setups stay hidden until both players finish, then become visible. Movement and the mating goal follow standard shogi.
- Board size
- 9×9
- Reuse of captured pieces
- Yes
- Main winning goal
- Checkmate the king
BGJ rules [22]
Masked Shogi
Secretly choose a piece other than your king as the masked target; losing it loses the game. The ordinary king can be captured and even dropped. BGJ’s default plays on until a masked target is taken.
- Board size
- 9×9
- Reuse of captured pieces
- Yes
- Main winning goal
- Capture the masked target
BGJ rules [23]
Tsuitate Shogi
You see only your own pieces and infer the opponent’s play from the referee’s announcements. Checks and captures are announced; an illegal attempt is retried. BGJ’s default loses on the tenth foul.
- Board size
- 9×9
- Reuse of captured pieces
- Yes; opponent’s hand hidden
- Main winning goal
- Mate / opponent makes 10 fouls
BGJ rules [24]
Four-Player Shogi
Four players share one board with nine pieces each. A player in check responds immediately, interrupting the normal order. BGJ’s default ends when two players are mated and ranks players by mates achieved and further tie-breaks.
- Board size
- 9×9
- Reuse of captured pieces
- Yes
- Main winning goal
- Rank by mates and tie-breaks
BGJ rules [25]
Other Games Using Shogi Boards or Pieces
Try sandwich captures, hidden piece identities or sliding pieces out of a pile, each with a goal different from checkmate. Gunjin Shogi uses its own board and pieces.
Hasami Shogi
Each player uses nine pawns, all sliding any distance along rows or columns. Capture by sandwiching an opponent’s pieces; BGJ’s default target is five captures. There is no king to checkmate.
- Board size
- 9×9
- Reuse of captured pieces
- No
- Main winning goal
- Capture 5 pieces first
BGJ rules [26]
Flanking Shogi
Use standard shogi pieces and setup, but take two moves per turn and capture by sandwiching along rows or columns. You cannot capture by moving onto an occupied enemy square; sandwiching the king wins.
- Board size
- 9×9
- Reuse of captured pieces
- Yes
- Main winning goal
- Sandwich the king
BGJ rules [27]
Gunjin Shogi
A separate set of military pieces is arranged with identities hidden from the opponent. Battles use a strength table rather than shogi captures. Enter the enemy headquarters with a general or field officer to win.
- Board size
- 8×8
- Reuse of captured pieces
- No
- Main winning goal
- Take headquarters / immobilize opponent
BGJ rules [28]
Shogi Kuzushi
A pile of forty shogi pieces replaces the arranged armies. Slide pieces out without making the others clatter. Rather than checkmating a king, BGJ’s default rewards the player who removes the most pieces.
- Board size
- Pile of pieces
- Reuse of captured pieces
- No
- Main winning goal
- Most pieces removed
BGJ rules [29]
Similar Games Around the World: Chess and Xiangqi
Chess and Xiangqi also use pieces with different roles to corner an opposing king. These two comparisons sit outside the 28 shogi games; compare their boards, goals and reuse of captured pieces.
Chess
Combine the moves of six piece types to trap the opposing king with no escape. Each player starts with sixteen pieces on an 8×8 board. Captured pieces stay off the board, so attacks and defence depend on those still in play. BGJ includes castling and promotion when a pawn reaches the far side.
- Board size
- 8×8 squares
- Reuse of captured pieces
- No drops
- Main winning goal
- Checkmate the king
BGJ rules [30]
Xiangqi
Coordinate pieces across a board marked by a river and palaces to leave the opposing general no escape. Each player has sixteen pieces on the intersections of nine by ten lines, with no captured-piece drops. Generals and advisors stay in the palace, elephants stay on their side of the river, and cannons capture over one intervening piece. In BGJ, leaving the opponent without a legal move also wins, and a third occurrence of a position is a draw.
- Board size
- 9×10 intersections
- Reuse of captured pieces
- No drops
- Main winning goal
- Mate the general / leave no legal move
BGJ rules [31]
Frequently Asked Questions
How do shogi variants differ from standard shogi?
Board size, movement, turns, winning goals or visible information may change. Check Shogi ends at the first check, while Double-Move Shogi gives two moves per turn and aims to capture the king.
Which game can I try first?
Minishogi combines a small board with drops, while Hasami Shogi gives every piece the same movement. Use Learn on the board on a game card for an interactive introduction.
Do historical shogi games allow drops?
Chu Shogi and Dai Shogi do not use captured-piece drops, but Tori Shogi does. The historical grouping alone does not determine the rule; check the comparison and each game page.
Can I change these rules?
This guide focuses on BGJ’s defaults. Each game page lists available settings, such as hand limits or winning goals. Choose those settings when creating a table.
What other games can I play with shogi pieces?
This guide includes Hasami Shogi and Hon Hasami Shogi for moving pieces to make sandwich captures, and Shogi Kuzushi for sliding pieces out of a pile without making the others clatter. Compare these games using shogi equipment by their actions and winning goals.
Sources and How BGJ Plays
- Japan Shogi Association — History of Japanese Shogi (1)Section on the reuse of captured pieces (historical commentary; Japanese) / Checked: ↩
- BoardGameJoin — Shogi: BGJ rulesSetup, play, winning and adjustable rules / Checked: ↩
- BoardGameJoin — Chu Shogi: BGJ rulesSetup, play, winning and adjustable rules / Checked: ↩
- BoardGameJoin — Dai Shogi: BGJ rulesSetup, play, winning and adjustable rules / Checked: ↩
- BoardGameJoin — Tori Shogi: BGJ rulesSetup, play, winning and adjustable rules / Checked: ↩
- BoardGameJoin — Minishogi: BGJ rulesSetup, play, winning and adjustable rules / Checked: ↩
- BoardGameJoin — Check Shogi: BGJ rulesSetup, play, winning and adjustable rules / Checked: ↩
- BoardGameJoin — No-Drop Shogi: BGJ rulesSetup, play, winning and adjustable rules / Checked: ↩
- BoardGameJoin — No-Pawn Shogi: BGJ rulesSetup, play, winning and adjustable rules / Checked: ↩
- BoardGameJoin — Annan Shogi: BGJ rulesSetup, play, winning and adjustable rules / Checked: ↩
- BoardGameJoin — Cylinder Shogi: BGJ rulesSetup, play, winning and adjustable rules / Checked: ↩
- BoardGameJoin — Double-Move Shogi: BGJ rulesSetup, play, winning and adjustable rules / Checked: ↩
- BoardGameJoin — Must-Capture Shogi: BGJ rulesSetup, play, winning and adjustable rules / Checked: ↩
- BoardGameJoin — Capital Return Shogi: BGJ rulesSetup, play, winning and adjustable rules / Checked: ↩
- BoardGameJoin — Pawn Race Shogi: BGJ rulesSetup, play, winning and adjustable rules / Checked: ↩
- BoardGameJoin — Rock-Paper-Scissors Shogi: BGJ rulesSetup, play, winning and adjustable rules / Checked: ↩
- BoardGameJoin — Card Shogi: BGJ rulesSetup, play, winning and adjustable rules / Checked: ↩
- BoardGameJoin — Kokose Shogi: BGJ rulesSetup, play, winning and adjustable rules / Checked: ↩
- BoardGameJoin — Eight-Way Knight Shogi: BGJ rulesSetup, play, winning and adjustable rules / Checked: ↩
- BoardGameJoin — Untakeable Silver: BGJ rulesSetup, play, winning and adjustable rules / Checked: ↩
- BoardGameJoin — Lion King Shogi: BGJ rulesSetup, play, winning and adjustable rules / Checked: ↩
- BoardGameJoin — Hidden Setup Shogi: BGJ rulesSetup, play, winning and adjustable rules / Checked: ↩
- BoardGameJoin — Masked Shogi: BGJ rulesSetup, play, winning and adjustable rules / Checked: ↩
- BoardGameJoin — Tsuitate Shogi: BGJ rulesSetup, play, winning and adjustable rules / Checked: ↩
- BoardGameJoin — Four-Player Shogi: BGJ rulesSetup, play, winning and adjustable rules / Checked: ↩
- BoardGameJoin — Hasami Shogi: BGJ rulesSetup, play, winning and adjustable rules / Checked: ↩
- BoardGameJoin — Flanking Shogi: BGJ rulesSetup, play, winning and adjustable rules / Checked: ↩
- BoardGameJoin — Gunjin Shogi: BGJ rulesSetup, play, winning and adjustable rules / Checked: ↩
- BoardGameJoin — Shogi Kuzushi: BGJ rulesSetup, play, winning and adjustable rules / Checked: ↩
- BoardGameJoin — Chess: BGJ rulesSetup, play, winning and adjustable rules / Checked: ↩
- BoardGameJoin — Xiangqi: BGJ rulesSetup, play, winning and adjustable rules / Checked: ↩