Lion King Shogi
Also known as: Shishio Shogi / Shishiō Shōgi
Lion king shogi is a handicap game for 2 players, about 10 minutes: one side has only a king and pawns, but its king moves like the chu shogi lion. Free in your browser, no sign-up.
Play with friendsJust send the invite link. No sign-up for them either
Find an opponent onlineComing soon (October)
Lion King Shogi in 30 seconds
- Set upThe lion side: king and 9 pawns. The challenger: the usual 20.
- Lion kingReaches squares two away; after a one-square step, may step again.
- Take turnsThe lion side moves first. Otherwise as in shogi.
- WinCheckmate the enemy king (or lion king).
At a glance
| Item | This game |
|---|---|
| Players | 2 players |
| Play time | About 10 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 Lion King 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
- The lion side (starting at the bottom, moving first) sets up only its king and nine pawns, on their usual squares. The challenger sets up the usual 20 pieces.
- When you play again, the sides swap (you can turn this off).
How to play
- The lion side's king is a lion king. It can move to any of the 24 squares within two, leaping over anything in between.
- After a one-square step the lion king may step one more square in the same turn, or stop there. It can take an adjacent piece and step back home (igui), or take two pieces in a row. After step 1, if your king is not in check and your opponent has no legal move, your turn ends there and you win.
- It may also step out and back home without taking anything (a pass). On the board, a lion king that stepped back shows a ↺ mark.
- A lion king in check may pass through an attacked square on its first step, as long as its second step gets it out. It cannot stop after the first step while still in check.
- Every other move, promotion, drops, two pawns on a file, pawn-drop mate and pieces with no further move are as in shogi.
Winning
- You win by checkmating the enemy king.
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lion side's piecesLion side's piecesShishi-ō Shogi is a handicap game where the stronger player's king becomes a lion king. It can leap to any square within two, and after a one-square step it may step once more in the same turn. In the ten-piece handicap the lion side keeps the king and 9 pawns; in the nineteen-piece handicap only the king, a bigger handicap with no pawn wall. The lion side moves first. | Choose what the lion side sets up besides the king. The nineteen-piece handicap is the king alone. | Ten-piece | Yes |
| Rook and bishop for the challenger | The challenger starts with a rook and a bishop in hand — a handicap for when the lion king feels too strong. | Off | Yes |
| Show legal squares | Mark the squares a selected piece can reach. | On | Yes |
| Swap who startsSwap who startsHere the first player is the lion side, so with this on the lion king passes to the other player each time you play again. If one player is clearly stronger and should always take the lion 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 |
Recommendations
Play this game once to write one.
Send feedback or a bug about this game
Request a setting for this game
We publish the feedback you send and what we do about it here
FAQ
How many players?
Two. Playing alone, you can take on the computer.
How long is a game?
About 10 minutes. The lion king is fast, so games are short.
Which side is stronger?
The lion side is usually thought to be stronger. If the challenger struggles, turn on "Rook and bishop for the challenger".
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.