Shogi glossary
Early escape (hayanige)
Japanese: 早逃げ
In shogi, an early escape (hayanige) is moving the king away from danger before the opponent's attack actually arrives, often with a single quiet step toward open space instead of adding another defender.
Moving the king to safety before the attack arrives.
Why one step can be enough
Many mating patterns need the king to stay on one particular square: in the corner, against the edge, or beside a square the attacker can protect. Moving the king one square ahead of time can make the whole attack miss. A king left in the corner, for example, may face a gold drop next to it protected by a knight; stepping out of the corner first leaves that net empty.
Time on your side
A well-known Japanese saying holds that an early king escape is worth eight moves. The number is not literal, but the idea is: the attacker has to rebuild the net around the king's new square, which costs several moves, while the escape cost only one. A newly added defender, by contrast, can become one more target for the attacker to hit or capture.
When to run
Escape early when your castle is about to crack and the nearby open squares are covered by your own pieces. Running into open space with no shelter just invites a series of checks.
Try it · from “Defense Basics: Interposing and Running Early”
White threatens mate with the knight and a gold in hand. Defend by moving the king.
FAQ
Is an early escape the same as getting out of check?
No. Moving out of check is forced. An early escape happens before any check, as a free choice made to stay ahead of the attack.
I don't do defense. Hope you brought a castle!
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