Tori Shogi Strategy and Tips

Here is how to think about winning at Tori Shogi, 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.

Compare left and right quails

Lesson 1

A left quail ranges forward and backward-right, and steps backward-left. A right quail reverses the diagonal directions.

In this position, look at the highlighted piece and its destination before playing. The pointed end shows which direction is forward; your opponent’s pieces face the other way. Moving onto an enemy piece captures it and adds its unpromoted form to your hand. On a later turn, that captured piece can return on an empty square. Keep your own phoenix safe while attacking the other one. Use the ? Info button to check the name and movement diagram: dots show steps, jump marks cross intervening pieces, and long lines show ranges through empty squares. Try the highlighted move, then inspect the destination and the captured-piece stand.

Jump with the pheasant

Lesson 2

A pheasant jumps exactly two squares forward over either side’s intervening piece. It can also step one diagonally backward.

In this position, look at the highlighted piece and its destination before playing. The pointed end shows which direction is forward; your opponent’s pieces face the other way. Moving onto an enemy piece captures it and adds its unpromoted form to your hand. On a later turn, that captured piece can return on an empty square. Keep your own phoenix safe while attacking the other one. Use the ? Info button to check the name and movement diagram: dots show steps, jump marks cross intervening pieces, and long lines show ranges through empty squares. Try the highlighted move, then inspect the destination and the captured-piece stand.

Promote a falcon

Lesson 3

A falcon must promote to eagle when entering the last two ranks. Eagles range diagonally forward and directly backward; their backward diagonals stop after two squares and cannot jump.

In this position, look at the highlighted piece and its destination before playing. The pointed end shows which direction is forward; your opponent’s pieces face the other way. Moving onto an enemy piece captures it and adds its unpromoted form to your hand. On a later turn, that captured piece can return on an empty square. Keep your own phoenix safe while attacking the other one. Use the ? Info button to check the name and movement diagram: dots show steps, jump marks cross intervening pieces, and long lines show ranges through empty squares. Try the highlighted move, then inspect the destination and the captured-piece stand.

Count unpromoted swallows

Lesson 4

Swallows are limited to two per file. Before a drop, count your unpromoted swallows on that file; geese do not count. Last-rank drops and immediate swallow drop checkmate are forbidden.

In this position, look at the highlighted piece and its destination before playing. The pointed end shows which direction is forward; your opponent’s pieces face the other way. Moving onto an enemy piece captures it and adds its unpromoted form to your hand. On a later turn, that captured piece can return on an empty square. Keep your own phoenix safe while attacking the other one. Use the ? Info button to check the name and movement diagram: dots show steps, jump marks cross intervening pieces, and long lines show ranges through empty squares. Try the highlighted move, then inspect the destination and the captured-piece stand.

Jump with a goose

Lesson 5

A goose jumps two squares diagonally forward to either side, or directly backward. It cannot step one square, jumps over intervening pieces, and does not count toward the swallow drop limit.

In this position, look at the highlighted piece and its destination before playing. The pointed end shows which direction is forward; your opponent’s pieces face the other way. Moving onto an enemy piece captures it and adds its unpromoted form to your hand. On a later turn, that captured piece can return on an empty square. Keep your own phoenix safe while attacking the other one. Use the ? Info button to check the name and movement diagram: dots show steps, jump marks cross intervening pieces, and long lines show ranges through empty squares. Try the highlighted move, then inspect the destination and the captured-piece stand.

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

Last updated 2026-10-07 · Run by Qdan, Inc.