Gunjin Shogi
Also known as: Military Shogi / Japanese military chess
Gunjin Shogi is a 20-minute game for 2 where you can't see your opponent's pieces. Deploy face down; when pieces meet, the referee keeps the stronger. Free in your browser, no sign-up.
Play with friendsJust send the invite link. No sign-up for them either
Find an opponent onlineComing soon (October)
Gunjin Shogi in 30 seconds
- Set upDeploy your 31 pieces face down in your camp. Your opponent can't see which is which.
- Take turnsMove one piece a turn. Everything except airplanes crosses by the gates.
- BattleWhen pieces meet, the battle table keeps the stronger. Same kinds both fall.
- WinEnter the enemy headquarters with a Major or higher, or leave your opponent unable to move.
At a glance
| Item | This game |
|---|---|
| Players | 2 players |
| Play time | About 20 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 | 2026-09-19 |
How to play Gunjin 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
- 2 players. On your own, play against the computer.
- The 31-piece army: General and Lieutenant General 1 each; Major General, Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel, Major, Captain, First Lieutenant and Second Lieutenant 2 each; 2 airplanes, 3 tanks, 2 cavalry, 3 engineers, 1 spy, 3 mines and 1 flag. (A 23-piece army is available in the settings.)
- Fill every square of your camp with one piece, face down. Tap two pieces to swap them. Mines and the flag may not stand on a gate (a front-row square joined to a bridge).
- The game starts when both players press Ready.
How to play
- Take turns moving one piece. You cannot move onto your own piece.
- Officers and the spy move 1 square forward, back or sideways. Tanks and cavalry move 1 square in those directions, or 2 straight forward if the square between is empty.
- Engineers move any distance forward, back or sideways without jumping. Airplanes move any distance forward or back, jumping over pieces, and can enter the enemy camp from any column; sideways they move 1.
- Mines and the flag never move.
- Except for airplanes, pieces enter the enemy camp by crossing the bridges at the gates.
- Moving onto an enemy piece starts a battle. The loser is removed according to the battle table; two pieces of the same kind are both removed. Your opponent only learns who won.
Winning
- Move a General, Lieutenant General, Major General, Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel or Major into the enemy headquarters and you win at once.
- You also win when your opponent has no piece (no move) left that can move. If neither side can move, the game is a draw.
- 100 moves in a row without a battle is a draw.
House rules
| Name | Description | Default | Changeable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Army sizeArmy sizeGates are the front-row squares joined to the bridges between the camps; everything except airplanes enters the enemy camp through them. The 31-piece army has four gates and diagonal crossings, so there are more lines of attack. The 23-piece army has two gates and a smaller camp, so battles come sooner and the game is shorter. | The 31-piece army (8×4 camps, X-shaped gates) or the quicker 23-piece army (6×4 camps, straight gates). | 31 pieces | Can be changed |
| Tanks beat engineersTanks beat engineersEngineers move any distance forward, back or sideways and beat mines and the spy, so they scout. Tanks are strong pieces that can move 2 squares forward. On: tanks beat engineers too. Off: engineers beat tanks, so an engineer can stop a tank. | In the battle tables of the sets sold from the Meiji to the Showa era, tanks beat engineers. Turn this off to have engineers beat tanks, as some later sets do. | On | Can be changed |
| Mines stayMines stayMines never move, and only airplanes and engineers can take them. Off (the default): any other piece that hits a mine falls together with it, so each mine works once. On: only the attacking piece is removed and the mine stays, so the same square stays a trap and defence gets stronger. | Only the piece that hits a mine is removed; the mine stays on the board, so mines are harder to find. | Off (both removed) | Can be changed |
| Lose with the GeneralLose with the GeneralNormally you win by moving a Major or higher into the enemy headquarters, or by leaving your opponent unable to move. On: you also lose the moment your General is removed (beaten by the spy, falling with a mine, and so on); if both Generals fall together, the game is a draw. You have to keep your General safer. | You lose as soon as your General is removed. | Off | Can be changed |
| Swap first player on rematch | Play again switches who moves first. | On | Can be changed |
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FAQ
How many can play?
2 players. On your own, play against the computer.
Do we need a referee?
No. The screen settles every battle and tells your opponent only who won.
What are the pieces?
Pieces and board drawn new for this site. On the English pages, ranks show their abbreviations (GEN, COL, 2LT…) and special pieces show a picture and a name.
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 2026-09-19 · Run by Qdan, Inc.