Card Shogi
Also known as: Trump Shogi / Playing-card Shogi
Card Shogi is a 2-player shogi variant, about 15 minutes: each turn draw a playing card and move or drop onto that file, or lose. Free, no sign-up.
Play with friendsJust send the invite link. No sign-up for them either
Find an opponent onlineComing soon (October)
Card Shogi in 30 seconds
- Set upSet up as in shogi and shuffle the 1–9 playing cards into a deck. Reshuffle when it runs out.
- DrawOn your turn draw one card and move or drop onto that file.
- CheckWhen in check, skip the draw and answer with any move.
- WinCheckmate the enemy king. If you cannot play on your file, you lose.
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 Card 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
- Set up the pieces as in shogi.
- Shuffle two packs' worth of playing cards from 1 to 9 (ace counts as 1), 72 cards in all. When the deck runs out, it is reshuffled.
How to play
- At the start of your turn draw one card (both players see it). Move one of your pieces to a square on that file, or drop a piece from hand on an empty square of that file. Files are counted from Black's right: file 1 is Black's right-hand edge, file 9 the left, on either player's turn.
- When you are in check, do not draw. Answer with any move — move any piece or drop a piece to block.
- Piece moves, promotion, drops, two pawns on a file, pawn-drop mate and pieces with no further move are as in shogi.
Winning
- Checkmate the enemy king to win.
- If you have no legal move on the file of your card, you lose.
- If the same position appears four times, the game is drawn (repetition). Repeated checks lose for the checking side.
House rules
| Name | Description | Default | Changeable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Add jokersAdd jokersIn Trump Shogi you may only play on the file (column; file 1 is on Black's right) matching the card you drew. With this setting on, two jokers are added to the deck, and whoever draws one may make any move that turn, free of the file. | Add two jokers to the deck. Whoever draws a joker may make any move. | Off | Yes |
| No move on the card's fileNo move on the card's fileWhat happens when no piece can move to, and no piece in hand can be dropped on, the file you drew. "You lose" is the source rule, so luck can end the game suddenly. "Draw again" keeps drawing (up to one pass through the deck) until a playable card comes, so you rarely lose to luck alone. | What happens when you cannot play on the file you drew. | You lose | 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 |
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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.
Does the computer know the order of the deck?
No. It sees only the card drawn and the board.
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.