Play shogi online, free: live matches, a computer opponent and a complete Japanese chess wiki.

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What is shogi?

Shogi (将棋) is Japanese chess: a 9x9 board, twenty pieces a side, kanji tiles instead of figures. What sets it apart is the drop - every piece you capture changes sides and comes back onto the board as one of your own.

Read the full shogi rules pieces play shogi now

wiki

pieces 14
castles 10
openings 9
culture 2

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recently updated

Ureshino-Ryuu Castle 囲
Ureshino-Ryuu 定
A surprise opening for a fast attack!
Kin Musō (Gold Excelsior) 囲
This opening uses two Gold generals to protect the king on the right side of the board.
Kaku Koukan Shikenbisha (KKS) 定
A playing method that unifies two common openings.
Reverse Climbing Silver 定
A variation of the Climbing Silver that can be used in Ranging Rook games.
Choosing between King and Jeweled General 文
There are two different pieces used to represent the King. How do you choose which one to use?

forum

Five boards, one account. Discussion runs under real handles - read anything you like, sign in to take part.

latest threads

Qual a pior abertura de jogar contra? 2
by FlutterFlight
Caramba, primeira vez que vejo algo assim. Parabéns ao desenvolvedor 6
by Anonymous
Olá pessoal, sou novo no fórum : ) 3
by lie
Queria que tivesse um grupo de Go na minha cidade 1
by Lis
E cadê as threads de mahjong? O único jogo que realmente importa. 2
by seijuuki
open the forum

How to start playing shogi online

  1. Learn the rules

    The board, the twenty pieces, promotion and drops - the whole ruleset of Japanese chess explained from zero, with no jargon.

    shogi rules

  2. Play your first game

    Open the lobby and play shogi online in the browser: against the computer at five strengths, against a friend through a shareable link, or against whoever is waiting in an open seat.

    play shogi now

  3. Study openings and castles

    Static Rook or Swinging Rook, Yagura, Mino, Anaguma: the community wiki documents the openings (joseki) and the castles (kakoi) move by move.

    open the wiki

  4. Join simuls and tournaments

    Play several boards at once in a simul, or enter a tournament and follow the standings live. Both are free and run in the browser.

    see what is running

Frequently asked questions about shogi

Is it free to play shogi here?

Yes. Every match, the computer opponent, the simuls, the tournaments and the whole wiki are free, with no ads and no paid tier. You only need an account to create games and to edit the wiki - watching a live game needs nothing at all.

Do I need to install anything to play shogi online?

No. Jogue Shogi runs entirely in the browser, on desktop and on mobile. There is no download, no plugin and no app store: open the lobby and the board is there.

What is the difference between shogi and chess?

Shogi is played on a 9x9 board with twenty pieces a side, the pieces are kanji tiles pointing at the opponent, and captured pieces come back: you may drop a captured piece onto almost any empty square as a piece of your own. That single rule makes shogi sharper than chess, keeps the material on the board and makes draws almost impossible.

Can I play shogi against the computer?

Yes. The lobby has a bot with five strengths, from a beginner-friendly level to an engine that punishes loose play. It is a good way to try an opening before taking it into a real game.

How do I learn shogi from scratch?

Start with the rules page, then read the pieces section to memorise how each kanji moves. After a couple of games, pick one castle and one opening and stick to them - that is how most players cross the gap between knowing the rules and actually playing.

Can I play shogi with a friend online?

Yes. Create a game in the lobby, choose the time control and send the link to whoever you want to play. They open the link and the match starts - nothing to install on their side, and the board works on the phone too.