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Untakeable Silver Strategy and Tips

Here is how to think about winning at Untakeable Silver, 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.

Take guarded pieces freely

Lesson 1

In ordinary shogi, taking a guarded piece can cost you: the capturing piece gets taken back. The challenger can never take an untakeable silver, so it captures without worrying about guards.

Here the enemy bishop on 4d is guarded by the knight on 3b and the gold on 5c. Take it with the untakeable silver from 5e. There is no recapture, so the whole bishop is yours.

Every enemy piece in front of an untakeable silver is at risk. As the silver side, lead with the silver and break the challenger's camp. If the capture lands in the zone, think before promoting — a promoted silver can be taken.

Stay unpromoted

Lesson 2

A silver moves like a gold once promoted, but a promoted untakeable silver is an ordinary piece that can be captured. Each time it enters the zone and you are asked whether to promote, the answer is almost always no.

Here the untakeable silver on 5d is closing in on the enemy king on 5a. Move it to 5c and choose not to promote. Standing unpromoted in front of the king, it cannot be taken.

Promote only when you truly need the promoted silver's sideways and straight-back moves and can afford to lose it. The untakeable silvers are your strongest pieces; normally keep them as they are.

Mate with the silver in front

Lesson 3

In ordinary shogi a piece placed right in front of the king is simply taken unless something guards it. An untakeable silver cannot be taken even by the king, so it needs no guard.

Here the enemy king is on 5a with its own gold and silver on 4a and 6a. Move the untakeable silver from 5c to 5b without promoting: check. The king may not take it, and its escapes, 4b and 6b, are covered by your pawns on 6c and 4c — mate.

Silver mates need no supporting piece, so they come quickly. Whenever the square in front of the enemy king is open, look for a straight path for the silver. The last move, too, is made without promoting.

Use the silver as a shield

Lesson 4

An ordinary blocking piece can be captured, reopening the line. Block with an untakeable silver and the challenger can never take it, so the line stays closed.

Here the enemy rook on file 5 is bearing down on your king on 5i. Move the untakeable silver from 4h to 5g and close the file. The rook cannot take the silver, so the attack down file 5 is over.

The silver side has no rook, bishop or golds, so defenders are scarce. Sending one untakeable silver back to shut a key line in front of your king is a technique worth knowing; where the enemy's major pieces stand decides whether it attacks or defends.

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.