Complete Shogi Rules（将棋の基本ルール）for Beginners

Shogi（将棋）has simple foundations, but also includes several unique rules
that make the game deep and strategic.

This guide explains all the essential rules, including drops, promotion,
illegal moves, and special rules like 千日手 (Sennichite) and 入玉 (Nyugyoku).

1. Objective of the Game（勝利条件）

The goal of shogi is to checkmate the opponent’s king（王将）.
If the king cannot escape from attack, the game ends.

2. How to Set Up the Board（駒の並べ方）

Shogi is played on a 9×9 board（将棋盤）with both players placing their pieces
facing forward in a mirrored formation.

3. How Each Piece Moves（各駒の動き）

Each piece—King, Rook, Bishop, Gold, Silver, Knight, Lance, and Pawn—
has its own movement pattern.

4. Promotion – 成り（Nari）

When a piece enters, moves within, or exits the opponent’s territory
(the last 3 ranks), it can promote（成る） to gain stronger movement.
Only the King and Gold General cannot promote.

5. Capturing Pieces（駒取り）

Captured pieces become 持ち駒 and can be dropped back onto the board later.

6. Drops – 打つ（Utsu / 駒打ち）

• 二歩（Nifu）：You cannot drop a pawn on a file where you already have a pawn.
• 打ち歩詰め（Uchifuzume）：Illegal pawn-drop checkmate.
• You cannot drop pieces where they cannot move afterward.

7. Check and Checkmate（王手・詰み）

王手 means check. 詰み means checkmate. Once checkmate occurs, the game ends.

8. Illegal Moves – 反則（Hansoku）

Illegal moves result in an immediate loss.

9. 千日手（Sennichite）

If the same position repeats four times, the game is a draw.

10. 入玉（Nyugyoku）

In rare endgame situations, a player can win without checkmating.

📘 Beginner Shogi Series

• 01. About Me
• 02. Shogi vs Chess
• 03. Shogi Pieces Explained
• 04. How to Set Up a Shogi Board
• 05. Complete Shogi Rules（This Article）