Capital Return Shogi
Capital return shogi is shogi for 2, about 15 minutes, where holding too many captured pieces makes you lose at once. Moves and promotion are as in shogi. Free in your browser, no sign-up.
Capital Return Shogi in 30 seconds
- Set upThe same board, pieces and starting position as shogi.
- Take turnsOne move each. Moves, promotion and drops are as in shogi.
- Hand limitYour hand total must not exceed 4 (5 in the settings) or you lose at once.
- WinCheckmate the enemy king. Passing the hand limit is also a loss.
At a glance
| Item | This game |
|---|---|
| Players | 2 players |
| Play time | About 15 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 Capital Return 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 and the usual 40 pieces, set up as in shogi.
- Black moves first and the players alternate. When you play again, Black and White 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. Moves, promotion and drops are exactly as in shogi.
- Capturing an enemy piece adds it to your hand. The instant your hand total passes the limit (4 by default, or 5 in the settings), you lose on the spot.
- You may not leave your king open to capture. Two pawns on a file, pieces with no further move and mate by a dropped pawn are illegal, as in shogi.
Winning
- Checkmate the enemy king to win.
- You also win if your opponent has no legal move.
- If your own hand total passes the limit, you lose immediately (your opponent wins).
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hand limitHand limitIn Shihon Kangen Shogi, you lose the moment the total number of pieces in your hand goes over this number. With "Up to 4", taking a fifth piece loses at once, so you have to drop captured pieces early. "Up to 5" gives a little more room, so trades are easier. | Choose the cap on your hand's total piece count. | 4 pieces | Yes |
| 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 |
Recommendations
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FAQ
How many players?
Two. Playing alone, you can take on the computer.
How long is a game?
About 15 minutes. Games can end sooner than ordinary shogi when the hand limit decides it.
Does my shogi experience carry over?
Yes. Moves, promotion, the two-pawn rule and the pawn-drop-mate ban are all the same. The only change is the cap on your hand total.
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.