Learn shogi
Shogi lessons
Twenty short lessons take you from “how does the knight move?” to closing in on a castled king. Each one is a few explanation cards with diagrams, then practice positions where you play the move yourself.
The four rules lessons are free here in full — or all on one page at how to play shogi. The other sixteen show their first cards and first practice position, and continue in the app. Want to go deeper? See the 12 openings, the glossary and the tsume puzzles.
Rules
How the Pieces MoveEvery shogi plan starts with how the eight kinds of piece move, and this lesson teaches them through real captures on the board.Captured Pieces and DropsDrops are what make shogi different from chess: captured pieces change sides and can come back on almost any empty square.PromotionPromotion turns small pieces into golds and your rook and bishop into the strongest pieces on the board, so knowing when you may promote wins material.Check, Checkmate and Illegal MovesBefore your first game you need the rules that decide it: answering check, recognizing checkmate, and the two pawn rules that catch out new players.
Tactics
The ForkThe fork is the most common way to win material in shogi, and pieces in hand make it easy to set one up.Skewers and PinsSkewers and pins win pieces that look safe, and both appear all the time once lances and bishops are in hand.Piece Values and TradesKnowing what each piece is worth tells you which trades to accept, and in shogi every trade also adds a piece to your opponent's hand.Pawn Techniques: Dangling and Joining PawnsPawns are your cheapest pieces, which makes them the best tools for opening files, preparing promotions and setting traps.Silver and Knight TricksSilvers and knights attack squares other pieces cannot reach, and the split silver and knight fork win material from quiet-looking positions.Counting Attackers and DefendersCounting attackers and defenders before you capture stops you from losing exchanges, and the same count tells you when a mating attack is ready.
Castles
The Mino CastleA king left in the center is the most common way beginners lose, and the Mino castle is a quick, sturdy fix.The Yagura CastleYagura is the classic castle for games where both players keep their rooks home, and building it in the right order keeps your bishop safe.The Anaguma (Bear-in-the-Hole)The Anaguma is one of the hardest castles to reach with checks; this lesson shows how to build it and what it costs.The Boat Castle and Breaking CastlesA castle protects you only until someone breaks it; this lesson builds the quick Boat castle and shows how to take a Mino apart.
Openings
Static Rook vs Ranging RookYour first big decision in every game is what to do with your rook, and that choice decides which castle you build.Climbing Silver (Bogin)Climbing Silver is one of the first attacks every player learns: simple, direct, and usable against both Static Rook and Ranging Rook.The Fourth-file RookThe Fourth-file Rook is the most popular Ranging Rook for beginners: a clear plan, a solid Mino and a ready counterattack.
Endgame
Mate Threats and BrinkmateEndgames are races, and a quiet mate threat that cannot be stopped often wins faster than any check.Closing In: Wrap the KingChasing a king with checks often lets it escape; wrapping it from the sides and behind is what turns a strong attack into mate.Defense Basics: Interposing and Running EarlyGood defense saves games you would otherwise lose, and knowing when not to defend matters just as much.
Also
I don't do defense. Hope you brought a castle!
All 20 lessons in the app
Every lesson with all its practice positions, hints and badges — then use what you learned against eight AI rivals.
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