Shogi·
First: what counts as winning?
The goal is checkmate: the opposing king is attacked and cannot legally escape by moving, capturing, blocking or dropping a piece in hand. Promoting first or capturing more pieces does not itself win.
If a rook attacks the king but a piece can be dropped between them to block it, there is no mate yet. Drops must be considered when checking for an escape.
Finishing the assigned opening is exercise completion; promotion and drops are tools toward the goal.
Start from zero—no terminology assumed
Read lesson one's equipment, vocabulary and sequence, then try the hands-on practice on the same page. Revisit the text and restart examples freely. Explain what you did, why, and what changed before moving on to advanced lessons.
Start lesson one →Shogi Lesson 1: Direction, Pieces and Turns
Learn the eight basic piece movements once, with coordinates, direction and king safety. Full rules for pieces in hand, drops and promotion follow in Lesson 2.
First steps · 6 steps · 35 min
Shogi Lesson 2: Pieces in Hand, Drops, Promotion and Mate
Build on Lesson 1 with pieces in hand, legal drops and promotion, then analyze mate in one and repetition.
Beginner · 7 steps · 35 min