Shogi glossary
Exchange (trade)
Japanese: 駒交換
In shogi, an exchange or trade (koma-kokan) is a capture followed by a recapture, so both sides swap pieces. Unlike chess, nothing leaves the game: each captured piece goes into the captor's hand, ready to be dropped back onto the board.
Capturing and being recaptured, swapping pieces.
Trades add pieces to the fight
In chess, trading simplifies the position. In shogi it tends to do the opposite: after a trade both players hold new pieces that can appear anywhere, so the game usually becomes sharper. Giving a gold for a silver loses about one point on the usual scale, and it also hands your opponent a gold to drop beside your king.
How to judge a trade
Compare rough values first, then ask who gets more use from the pieces in hand. Giving a silver for a bishop is normally a good deal, since a bishop in hand is a strong weapon. When several of your pieces can capture on the same square, use the cheapest one, so a recapture costs you less.
King safety changes the math. A player whose king is buried in an Anaguma can welcome trades, because extra enemy pieces in hand have little to aim at. The Bishop Exchange opening swaps both bishops within the first dozen moves.
Try it · from “Piece Values and Trades”
Should you trade your silver for the bishop? Make the best move.
FAQ
Should you trade pieces when you are ahead in shogi?
Not automatically. Trades put pieces into both hands, so simplifying does not reduce the opponent's attacking chances the way it does in chess. Trade when the pieces you receive help you more than the ones you give.
Related
Terms:
Lessons: Piece Values and Trades · Counting Attackers and Defenders
Openings: Bishop Exchange
I don't do defense. Hope you brought a castle!
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