Tsuitate Shogi
Also known as: Blind Shogi / Kriegspiel Shogi / Screen Shogi
Tsuitate shogi is shogi where your opponent’s pieces stay hidden — 2 players, about 20 minutes. The referee (this screen) calls checks, captures and fouls. Checkmate the king to win.
Play with friendsJust send the invite link. No sign-up for them either
Find an opponent onlineComing soon (October)
Tsuitate Shogi in 30 seconds
- Set upSet up as in shogi — but you only ever see your own pieces.
- Take turnsMove in turn. The referee announces captures and checks to both.
- FoulsSliding through a hidden piece or ignoring a check is a foul; the move is undone.
- WinCheckmate the king to win. Your tenth foul loses.
At a glance
| Item | This game |
|---|---|
| Players | 2 players |
| Play time | About 20 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 Tsuitate 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
- A 9×9 shogi board and the usual 40 pieces, set up as in shogi.
- Your board shows only your own pieces. Your opponent’s pieces stay hidden until the game is over.
- Black (sente) moves first and players alternate. Playing again swaps who goes first (you can turn this off).
How to play
- On your turn, move one piece or drop one piece from your hand. Moves, promotion and drops are exactly as in shogi.
- Move onto a square holding an enemy piece and you capture it. It joins your hand, and the referee tells both players which piece was taken on which square — not what took it.
- When your opponent moves you only learn that they moved, not what or where.
- When a move gives check, the referee announces “check” to both players. The direction is not announced.
- Fouls: a rook, bishop or lance sliding through a hidden piece, dropping onto a hidden piece, leaving your king in check, stepping into check, and a pawn-drop checkmate. The referee just says “foul”; the move is undone and the same player moves again.
- Moves that are illegal on your own board alone — two pawns on a file, a piece with nowhere to go — simply cannot be played and do not count as fouls.
Winning
- Checkmate your opponent’s king and you win at once.
- Your tenth foul loses (nine are allowed; the limit can be raised to twenty).
- If there is no result after 150 moves the game is drawn (or 300 by setting). There is no repetition rule.
- When the game ends, both boards are opened so you can see where everything was.
House rules
| Name | Description | Default | Changeable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foul limitFoul limitA foul is a move that looks legal on your own board but is illegal because of enemy pieces you cannot see (moving through an enemy piece, dropping onto an occupied square, leaving your king in check, and so on). The move is taken back and the same player moves again. Fouls also help you locate enemy pieces, so a higher limit lets you probe more boldly. | This foul loses the game; with 10, nine are allowed. New players may prefer 20 for a longer game (about 20–30 minutes). | 10th foul loses (about 15–20 minutes) | Yes |
| Announce fouls to bothAnnounce fouls to bothOn: you are told when your opponent fouls and see their count, which hints at what they are probing for. Off: a foul is told only to the player who made it, and the opponent hears nothing. Either way, where the foul was and why it was a foul are never told to the opponent. | Fouls and foul counts are shown to both players. Turn off to tell only the player who fouled. | On | Yes |
| Move limit | Drawn if there is no result by this many moves (fouls don’t count). | 150 moves (about 15–25 minutes) | Yes |
| Show reachable squares | Pick a piece to mark the squares it can reach on your own board. Hidden enemy pieces are not taken into account. | On | Yes |
| Swap first move on replay | Playing again swaps who moves first. | On | Yes |
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FAQ
How many players?
Two. On your own, play against the CPU.
Do we need a referee?
No. The screen watches both boards and announces checks, fouls and captures.
How long does a game take?
About 20 minutes. The game is drawn at 150 moves and ten fouls lose, so it never drags on.
Can I practise alone?
Yes — choose Play vs CPU. The CPU also sees only its own pieces and the referee’s announcements; it never peeks.
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.