Shogi glossary
Promoted lance
Japanese: 成香
In shogi, a promoted lance (narikyō, 成香) is a lance turned over in the promotion zone. It moves like a gold, trading the lance's long forward line for short steps in six directions, including sideways and back.
A promoted lance; moves like a gold.
When promotion is forced
A lance that reaches the opponent's last rank (rank a for Black) must promote, since an unpromoted lance could never move from there. On the other two ranks of the zone, b and c for Black, it may stay a lance. Pawns follow the same last-rank rule; knights have the stricter last-two-ranks rule.
When to keep the line
Promotion costs the lance its range. An unpromoted lance on 1c still attacks along the file through 1b toward 1a, which can keep an enemy piece pinned against the king or stop the king from slipping out along the edge. Promoted, it reaches only the squares next to it, so keep it unpromoted while that line is doing work.
Promote when the lance has finished its run and is needed as a short-range attacker. A promoted lance next to the enemy king, especially after an edge attack has broken open the 1st or 9th file, works like an extra gold that cost only a lance.
Value
A lance is worth about 3, so becoming a gold-mover is a large gain. If captured, it goes back to the captor's hand as a lance.
FAQ
Can a lance stay unpromoted inside the promotion zone?
Yes. On the second and third ranks from the far edge it may stay unpromoted. Only a move onto the very last rank forces promotion.
I don't do defense. Hope you brought a castle!
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