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Hidden Setup Shogi Strategy and Tips

Here is how to think about winning at Hidden Setup Shogi, split into short lessons. Each one reads on its own, and each one comes with a real position: press Try it on the board and you play the move yourself.

Put the rook in the centre

Lesson 1

In Hidden Setup Shogi your eleven non-pawn pieces may go anywhere in your back two ranks. The usual setup keeps the rook on 2h, but placing it on 5h lets you start in a 'central rook' shape.

During setup, tap the rook on 2h, then tap the empty square 5h to move it there. Moving onto an empty square uses the same two taps as swapping.

A central rook pushes the file-5 pawn and attacks the enemy king head-on. With the rook in the middle, though, your king must castle to one side. Decide where the king and the golds and silvers go together with the rook — you cannot see your opponent's plan until both are done.

Start with the king tucked aside

Lesson 2

In ordinary shogi you spend several opening moves walking the king to one side and wrapping it in golds and silvers. In Hidden Setup Shogi you can place the king to the side from the start and spend those moves attacking instead.

During setup, tap the king on 5i, then tap the empty square 3h. The king lands right beside the gold and silver on that side, already close to a castle.

Remember that the side where your king lives is where your opponent will aim first — and you only see their setup once both are done. Keep the golds and silvers on that side close to the king.

After the reveal, hit the thin side

Lesson 3

When both players are done, the whole board is revealed. From here the game is ordinary shogi, but the enemy setup is different every time — so first find where their king is and which way their golds and silvers lean.

Here your opponent put the king on 4a and both golds far away on files 7 and 8. File 4, right in front of their king, has almost no defenders. Push the pawn from 4g to 4f to prepare an attack down file 4 with your rook on 4h.

Every setup has a weak file. If the king stands apart from its golds and silvers, the files in between are the target. Your own weak files are visible too, so keep an eye on defence while you attack.

No lance on the edge? Attack it

Lesson 4

In the usual setup, a lance stands at each edge and guards it. In Hidden Setup Shogi lances can go anywhere too, so your opponent may have moved one off the edge, leaving it thin.

Here your opponent moved the file-1 lance over to 2a, leaving 1a empty. Push the pawn from 1g to 1f to start an edge attack. Next you can push on to 1e and 1d and break through file 1 with a lance or rook.

An edge attack is strongest when the enemy king is near that edge. And if you moved your own lance, expect the same treatment. Make a habit of checking what each setup gained and lost the moment the boards are revealed.

Try it on the board

Pick a lesson and the board starts from that position. Start over as often as you like.

Now put it to work

Play with friendsLearn how to play (3 min)

Last updated 2026-09-25 · Run by Qdan, Inc.