Join with a codeJOINLog in

Minishogi Strategy and Tips

Here is how to think about winning at Minishogi, 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.

Promote the bishop on the far rank

Lesson 1

The minishogi board is only five squares across, so a bishop's diagonal is at most four squares long. With less reach than in ordinary shogi, promoting it to a horse — which also steps to neighbouring squares — is worth all the more.

A piece may promote when it moves into, within or out of the far rank (rank a for Black). Here, move the bishop two squares diagonally from 4c to 2a and it may promote. When asked, choose Promote.

A horse keeps the bishop's diagonals and adds one-square steps up, down and sideways. On a small board, reaching the neighbouring squares helps in attack and defence alike — and chances to promote are rarer than in ordinary shogi, so take them.

Drop pawns only on a pawn-free file

Lesson 2

Two unpromoted pawns of yours on one file is illegal, just as in ordinary shogi. Minishogi has only five files, so a single pawn on the board already rules out one of them for a drop.

Here your pawn stands on 5d, so you cannot drop a pawn anywhere on file 5. Any other file is fine. Drop it on 3c and it pushes forward from the centre of the board, covering the space in front of the enemy king.

Pawns also cannot be dropped on the far rank, and dropping a pawn to give immediate mate is illegal too. Before dropping, check the file for a pawn of yours and make sure it is not the far rank.

Take the unguarded piece

Lesson 3

With only six pieces a side, a single piece makes a big difference in minishogi. An enemy piece with nothing guarding it can be taken for free, so whenever you spot one, see whether you can capture it.

Here an enemy pawn stands on 3b. The enemy king on 1a cannot reach 3b. Take the pawn with your silver from 3c: nothing can take back, and the pawn goes into your hand.

A captured piece can be dropped from your very next move, so attacks come fast on a small board. The other way round, check after every move that none of your own pieces is left unguarded.

Promote the rook to a dragon

Lesson 4

A dragon keeps the rook's long lines along ranks and files and adds a one-square step diagonally. On the narrow minishogi board, reaching those diagonal squares takes away many of the enemy king's escapes.

Here, push the rook straight up from 1d to 1a and it may promote. When asked, choose Promote. The dragon on 1a sweeps along rank a and gives check to the king on 5a.

Promotion happens only when a piece moves into, within or out of the far rank. When the road to the far rank opens for your rook or bishop, take the chance.

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.