Double-Move Shogi: Rules and How to Play
Double-move shogi is shogi for 2 players, about 10 minutes, where each turn is two moves and you win by actually capturing the king. Pieces move as in shogi. Free in your browser, no sign-up.
Objective
Double-move shogi is a shogi variant in which each turn is two moves, and the first player to capture the enemy king wins.
Setup
- Use a 9×9 shogi board and the usual 40 pieces, set up as in shogi.
- When you play again, Black and White swap (you can turn this off).
How to play
- Black's very first turn is a single move. After that, starting with White, each turn is two moves.
- The two moves can be the same piece twice or two different pieces. You may drop two pieces, or drop a piece and move it straight away.
- Moves, promotion, drops, two pawns on a file and pieces with no further move are as in shogi.
- Leaving your king in check, or moving it into an attacked square, is not illegal — but the king can then be captured.
Winning and scoring
- You win the moment you capture the enemy king. Even a checkmate position is not the end: with two moves your opponent may still get away.
- 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.
Defaults on this site
| Item | Default on this site |
|---|---|
| Players | 2 players (set automatically by the party size) |
| Turn time limit | None by default (the host can set 30 or 60 seconds) |
| If someone drops mid-game | Reopening on the same device returns you to your seat. If you do not return, the CPU plays in your place. |
| Draws | In ranked play, a draw counts as halfway between a win and a loss for your rating. |
| Source of the rules | Based on the standard reference rules |
Rules supervised by Qdan, Inc. (based on the standard reference rules)
House rules
Defaults follow the standard reference rules. The party can change these.
| 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 |
Terms
- Double move
- Making two moves in a row on one turn. Every turn except Black's first is a double move.
- Check
- A position where the king could be captured next move. Here, a check with your first move lets you take the king with your second.
- Capturing the king
- How you win this game — not by checkmate but by actually taking the king.
FAQ
Why is Black's first turn only one move?
Two moves at the very start would be too strong. Only Black's first turn is a single move; every turn after that is two.
Do I lose when I am checkmated?
No. You lose only when your king is actually captured. With two moves you can sometimes escape a mating net.
May I leave my king in check?
It is not illegal, but your opponent can take the king with the first move of their turn.
Play now with these rules
Last updated 2026-09-25 · Run by Qdan, Inc.