Pawn Race Shogi
Pawn race shogi is shogi for 2 players, about 8 minutes, where the first player to capture five enemy pawns wins — no checkmate needed. Pieces move as in shogi. Free in your browser, no sign-up.
Pawn Race Shogi in 30 seconds
- Set upThe same board, pieces and starting position as shogi.
- Take turnsOne move each. Moves, promotion and drops are as in shogi.
- CountCount the enemy pawns (tokins included) you capture. Dropping them does not lower it.
- WinThe first player to capture five pawns wins at once.
At a glance
| Item | This game |
|---|---|
| Players | 2 players |
| Play time | About 8 min |
| Type | Board |
| Ranked play | No |
| Practice against the CPU | Yes |
| Price | Free (no account needed) |
| Rights holder | A public-domain classic game |
| Last updated | 2026-09-25 |
How to play Pawn Race Shogi online with friends
- Tap "Play with friends"A party is created with a 6-character code. No account is needed.
- Send a link or QR codeShare it on LINE, or just read the code aloud.
- Everyone opens it in a browserOnce 2 players have joined, the host taps "Start".
Rule highlights
Setup, play, winning, and house rules
Setup
- Use a 9×9 shogi board and the usual 40 pieces, set up as in shogi.
- Black moves first and the players alternate. When you play again, Black and White swap (you can turn this off).
How to play
- On your turn, move one piece on the board or drop one piece from your hand. Moves, promotion and drops are exactly as in shogi.
- Count the enemy pawns you capture. Capturing a tokin (promoted pawn) also counts as one pawn. Dropping a captured pawn does not lower your count (the number beside each player's name above the board shows their total out of 5).
- You may not leave your king open to capture. Two pawns on a file and pieces with no further move are illegal, as in shogi.
Winning
- The moment you have captured five pawns, you win.
- You also win if your opponent has no legal move.
- If the same position appears four times the game is a draw and is replayed. Repeated checks lose for the checking side.
House rules
| Name | Description | Default | Changeable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Show legal squares | Mark the squares a selected piece can reach. | On | Yes |
| Swap who starts | Swap who plays Black after each game. | On | Yes |
| Move limit | Draw the game once this many moves have been played. For tables that want to cut a long game short. | None | Yes |
Recommendations
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FAQ
How many players?
Two. Playing alone, you can take on the computer.
How long is a game?
About 8 minutes — a little longer than check shogi, since it takes time to hunt down pawns.
Is it good shogi practice?
Yes. Moves, promotion and drops match shogi, so it sharpens your sense of material and piece safety.
Can I play on a phone?
Yes. No app is needed — just open it in a browser. You can join the same party as people on a PC or tablet.
Can two people play?
Yes. This game supports 2 or more players.
Rights holder and physical edition
This is a public-domain classic game. The rules follow the standard reference rules.
Related games
Same type (Board)
Same player count
Last updated 2026-09-25 · Run by Qdan, Inc.