Shogi glossary
Gold general
Japanese: 金将
In shogi, the gold general (kinshō, 金将) is a short-range defender that moves one square forward, diagonally forward, sideways or straight back—six directions in all—and forms the backbone of almost every castle.
Moves one square forward, diagonally forward, sideways or straight back. Never promotes.
How it moves
The only squares a gold cannot reach next to it are the two diagonally behind it. Each player starts with two golds, on 4i and 6i for Black, one on each side of the king.
The gold never promotes. Instead, it is the model for promotion: the silver, knight, lance and pawn all promote to pieces that move exactly like a gold.
How it is used
Golds stay close to the king. In the Mino castle they stand on 4i and 5h, in the Yagura on 7h and 6g. Their sideways and backward steps let them protect each other and plug holes.
In attack the gold is the most common finishing piece. A gold dropped directly in front of the king and protected by another piece is the basic mate called gold on the head. Because it attacks forward and sideways together, a dropped gold also makes a good check-and-fork.
Tips
With a rough value of 6, a gold is worth a little more than a silver. Think twice before trading a gold for a silver: your opponent receives the piece that mates best.
FAQ
Why can't the gold promote in shogi?
It is simply the rule: kings and golds have no promoted side. The gold's movement is already what the smaller pieces gain when they promote.
Related
Terms:
Lessons: How the Pieces Move · Captured Pieces and Drops · The Mino Castle
Openings: Yagura
I don't do defense. Hope you brought a castle!
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