Eight-Way Knight Shogi
Also known as: Happo Kei / 8-Direction Knight Shogi
Eight-way knight shogi is a handicap shogi for 2, about 20 minutes: the stronger side gives up four pieces, but its knights leap 8 ways like a chess knight. Free, no sign-up.
Play with friendsJust send the invite link. No sign-up for them either
Find an opponent onlineComing soon (October)
Eight-Way Knight Shogi in 30 seconds
- Set upThe stronger side plays without rook, bishop and both lances; the weaker side has the usual 20 pieces. The stronger side moves first.
- Take turnsOne move each. Every piece but the knight moves, promotes and drops exactly as in shogi.
- The knightOnly the stronger side's knights leap in all 8 directions. The weaker side's knights move as usual.
- WinCheckmate wins, exactly as in shogi.
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 | 2026-09-25 |
How to play Eight-Way Knight 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. The stronger side (starting at the bottom and moving first) sets up without the rook, bishop and both lances (king, 2 golds, 2 silvers, 2 knights and 9 pawns). The weaker side has the usual 20 pieces.
- The stronger side moves first and the players alternate. When you play again, the stronger and weaker sides 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. Every piece but the knight moves, promotes and drops exactly as in shogi.
- The stronger side's knight (the eight-way knight) reaches all 8 squares two-forward-one-across and one-forward-two-across, backward too. Dropped on the far rank it is never left without a legal move. A promoted eight-way knight moves both as a gold and as an eight-way knight.
- The weaker side's knights move as in ordinary shogi. A captured knight takes its captor's kind: the stronger side drops it as an eight-way knight, and an eight-way knight taken by the weaker side becomes an ordinary knight.
- You may not leave your king open to capture. Two pawns on a file, the pawn-drop-mate ban, and pieces with no further move (for every piece but the stronger side's knight) are illegal, as in shogi.
- The Ai-Happo-Kei setting plays an even game without handicap, where both sides' knights leap 8 ways (a promoted knight moves as a gold).
Winning
- Checkmate the enemy king to win, exactly as in shogi.
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| FormFormA happo-kei knight leaps to any of 8 squares (two ahead or behind and one to the side, or one ahead or behind and two to the side). In the four-piece handicap the stronger player removes the rook, bishop and both lances, moves first, and only their knights leap 8 ways — good for players of different strength. Ai-Happo-Kei is an even game where both sides' knights leap 8 ways. | Choose how to play. Ai-Happo-Kei is an even game without handicap where both sides' knights leap 8 ways. | Four-piece handicap (stronger side's knights only) | Yes |
| Show legal squares | Mark the squares a selected piece can reach. | On | Yes |
| Swap who startsSwap who startsIn the four-piece handicap the first player is the stronger (happo-kei) side, so with this on the stronger and weaker sides switch each time you play again. If one player is clearly stronger and should always take that side, turn it off. | 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 |
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FAQ
How many players?
Two. Playing alone, you can take on the computer.
How long is a game?
About 20 minutes, roughly the same as shogi.
What's different from shogi?
The stronger side gives up four pieces, and its knights leap in 8 directions. Every other piece, promotion, drops and the win condition are exactly as in shogi.
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.