LEARN

The starting point of all beginners

Quick Guide to Piece Types

Choose your style

Double Kanji (traditional)

Single-kanji (easier)

Czech Set (shows movement)

International Sets (avoids kanji)

Animal Set (cute)

[ HINT ] There is no shame in learning basics on non-kanji pieces. You can always move later to kanji. I have done so myself!

Get Your Pieces

Recommended places

NEKOMADO Shop has variety of shogi pieces: kanji, international, animal; wooden and plastic; black or red backgrounds for promoted pieces. Shogi boards made from wood, vinyl, fabric… Many items to choose from. I highly recommend.

SHOGI.CZ is famous for their Czech Pieces (kanji with movement), but they sell other types as well. They are based in Czech, so if you live in Europe, it might be easier to order from them. They have some of the Nekomado’s items in stock.

JAPAN SHOGI ASSOCIATION‘s shop webpage is in Japanese, but they offer high quality items from Japan. Although the order seems like it requires Japanese, sending email in English was possible in the past.

[in the future: Takada’s set]

Print Out a Set

Free on your home printer. Get your scissors and glue ready.

DIY Shogi pieces – largeDownload

[ HINT ] Again, choose the piece set that looks the most fun to you. Each piece has two sides: the front and the back. You are supposed to fold them and glue them together!

Start with Basics

Recommended tutorials online

HIDETCHI is the most famous shogi promotor online. His tutorial uses traditional pieces (both double and single kanji) and is a set of over 40 videos that cover basic rules, advanced techniques and shogi trivia. (He is the person who made 81dojo server) I recommend watching at least until lesson #7 to be able to practice checkmates in the next step!

Shogi Harbour EXPLOSIVE Tutorial is a one-video tutorial using Czech set. It helps you remember kanji, piece movement and the basic rules. It omits the most complicated rules for simplicity

[in making: Shogi Harbour tutorial using International Set and animal set]

[ HINT ] Remember you can ask ANY question on our Discord!

Try in Practice

To memorize, repetition is the key.

  1. Practice the pieces you chose with this lishogi study: Rules Practice For Freshly New Players
  2. Solve some endgame puzzles (less pieces on board means less confusion): KD’s Beginner tsume
  3. Try out a challenge: Play against computer (less pieces)
  4. Try out real challenge against Lishogi bots or play real humans!

[ HINT ] DON’T PLAY QUICK GAMES at this level. It will only be frustrating.

How to set up lishogi bot:
  1. Go to lishogi.org
  2. Click “play with computer” on the right side
  3. Variant: Standard
  4. From Position -> Handicap? (10-piece)
  5. Real time -> set up maximally to the right side both zippers
  6. Fairy Stockfish -> Level 1
  7. Shitate (handicap receiver), the game will start. Enjoy!

How to play against real people:
  1. Go to lishogi.org
  2. Make an account or play as anonymous
  3. Click the 15|60 button. It means you will have 15 minutes thinking time and then 1 minute per move afterwards.

Good luck!

[ HINT ] Keep your game records and post it on our Discord to get advice on how to improve!

The Next Step

Recommended places and channels.