Shogi glossary
King in the center
Japanese: 居玉
In shogi, a king in the center (igyoku) is a king that has never left its starting square, 5i for Black or 5a for White, which becomes a serious weakness once pieces start being exchanged and dropped.
A king left on its starting square; dangerous once fighting starts.
Why it is dangerous
On 5i the king sits in the middle of the back rank, open along the 5th file and both diagonals, while the golds and silvers are spread out instead of gathered around it. Drops make it worse: after the first trades, a piece in hand can land on any empty square near the king. A typical punishment is a bishop drop that checks the king and hits the rook at the same time, the fork known as oute-bisha.
Castling takes several moves
Chess players castle in a single move. Shogi has no castling move: the king walks to its castle one step at a time, so the walk must start early. A Ranging Rook player moves the rook first and then walks the king to 2h; a Static Rook player usually heads left toward 7h or 8h.
Not the same as a central king
Some sharp Static Rook openings, such as Side Pawn Capture and Double Wing Attack, keep the king near the middle on purpose (nakazumai). There the king has usually taken a step and the golds are arranged around it, a planned shape rather than a neglected king.
FAQ
Is it ever fine to leave the king in the center?
Only in specific sharp openings where the fight starts immediately. For beginners, castling before fighting is one of the most reliable ways to stop losing quickly.
I don't do defense. Hope you brought a castle!
Learn it by playing
20 interactive lessons, 10,000 tsume puzzles and eight AI rivals — and every game you play is reviewed in plain English, with terms like “king in the center” explained when they happen on your board.
Free on iPhone & Android. Coming soon to the App Store and Google Play. Privacy