This page lists rules for various variants of the Japanese board game Shogi, with a particular focus on those that can be played with standard pieces (except for the first one). These are good practice for beginners, or for regular players who want a quick challenge.
Unless otherwise stated, each variant follows every rule of standard Shogi. Promotion zones are marked in a darker color.
Dobutsu Shogi (3×4)
| きG(ワW) | ラL(王K) | ぞE(フF) |
| ひC(歩P) | ||
| ひc(歩p) | ||
| ぞe(フf) | ラl(玉k) | きg(ワw) |
Invented by Madoka Kitao as a suitable variant for young children. Each player has one lion (king), one giraffe (wazir, rook limited to 1 square), one elephant (ferz, bishop limited to 1 square), and one chicken (pawn). The chicken promotes to a hen (gold) on the last rank, while the other pieces don't promote.
A player can win either by capturing the opponent's lion or by reaching the last row with their own lion.
There are no restrictions on chicken drops. Perpetual check is a draw.
Goro Goro Shogi (5×6)
| In hand: — | ||||
| 銀S | 金G | 王K | 金G | 銀S |
| 歩P | 歩P | 歩P | ||
| 歩p | 歩p | 歩p | ||
| 銀s | 金g | 玉k | 金g | 銀s |
| In hand: — | ||||
| In hand: 桂N 香L | ||||
| 銀S | 金G | 王K | 金G | 銀S |
| 歩P | 歩P | 歩P | ||
| 歩p | 歩p | 歩p | ||
| 銀s | 金g | 玉k | 金g | 銀s |
| In hand: 桂n 香l | ||||
A simplified game focusing entirely on short-range pieces. Each player has one king, two golds, two silvers, and three pawns.
In a variant, both players also start with one lance and one knight in hand.
Mini Shogi / Gogo Shogi (5×5)
| 飛R | 角B | 銀S | 金G | 王K |
| 歩P | ||||
| 歩p | ||||
| 玉k | 金g | 銀s | 角b | 飛r |
Invented by Shigenobu Kusumoto. Each player has one each of king, gold, silver, bishop, rook, and pawn.
Mini Shogi has one special rule: fourfold repetition (sennichite) is a win for White (gote).
Judkins Shogi (6×6)
| 飛R | 角B | 桂N | 銀S | 金G | 王K |
| 歩P | |||||
| 歩p | |||||
| 玉k | 金g | 銀s | 桂n | 角b | 飛r |
Invented by Paul Judkins. Same pieces as Mini Shogi, with the addition of a knight. Fourfold repetition is a draw.
Simple Shogi (3×5)
| In hand: 金G 銀S | ||
| 王K | ||
| 歩P | ||
| 歩p | ||
| 玉k | ||
| In hand: 金g 銀s | ||
Invented by Yoshihisa Itsubaki. Each player starts with one king and one pawn on the board, and one gold and one silver in hand.
Rocket Shogi (5×7)
| 桂N | 飛R | 王K | 角B | 桂N |
| 金G | 銀S | |||
| 香L | ||||
| 香l | ||||
| 銀s | 金g | |||
| 桂n | 角b | 玉k | 飛r | 桂n |
Invented by Yoshihisa Itsubaki. This variant is played without pawns. Each player has one king, one gold, one silver, one bishop, one rook, two knights, and one lance.
3×3 Shogi
| In hand: 銀S 歩P | ||
| 王K | ||
| 玉k | ||
| In hand: 銀s 歩p | ||
Invented by Natsuhiko Nagumo. Each player starts with their king in their left corner and a pawn and silver in hand.
This page was last updated 2020-04-09.