Shogi glossary
Tempo
Japanese: 手番・手得
In shogi, a tempo is one move's worth of time: gaining a tempo (tetoku) means reaching a position a move ahead of normal, while losing one (teson) means falling a move behind.
A move's worth of time; gaining a tempo means you are one move ahead.
Why moves are precious
Black starts with an extra tempo simply by moving first. In the opening, a tempo can mean a castle finished one move sooner or an attack that lands before the defense is ready. A classic way to lose one is to let the opponent trade pawns on a file and then spend a move dropping a pawn to block their rook.
Sente and gote moves
Shogi players also call a forcing move sente, because the opponent must reply and you keep the initiative afterward, while a move that lets the opponent choose freely is gote. Stringing sente moves together gains time, and checks and mate threats are the strongest examples.
Having the move, teban, is often decisive in the endgame, where the player to move may be the one who mates first.
FAQ
Is tempo more important in shogi than in chess?
Tempo matters in both games, but in a shogi endgame drops let attacks arrive so fast that a single move often decides who mates first.
Does the word sente only mean the first player?
No. Sente names the player who moves first, Black, but it also describes any move that demands an answer and lets you keep the initiative.
Related
Terms:
Lessons: Mate Threats and Brinkmate · Static Rook vs Ranging Rook
Openings: Fourth-file Rook
I don't do defense. Hope you brought a castle!
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