by Roger Hare, rhare[at]talk21[dot]com
Last modified: 8 September 2003
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Wa Shogi by Roger Hare, rhare[at]talk21[dot]com Last modified: 8 September 2003 Roger Hare's Shogi Pages are brought to you by
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| Contents |
| Introduction to Wa Shogi |
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Wa Shogi is played on an 11x11 board and the promotion zone comprises the three ranks furthest away from each player. It is thought to have been played without drops.
Wa Shogi equipment is available from G Hodges.
| The Wa Shogi Board |
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The board looks like this:
The board is 11 'squares' by 11, but otherwise is the same as a shogi board The circular points are to mark promotion zones and to enable you to visually divide the board up easily. The letters and numbers are for notational purposes - eg: the top right square is a1, the bottom left is k11, and so on. As usual, black plays 'up' the board, and white plays 'down' the board.
| The Wa Shogi Pieces |
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Wa Shogi pieces are all named after birds or animals.
The diagrams below are scanned in (with permission) from the leaflet describing Wa Shogi which is supplied by G F Hodges. The quality of the scanned images leaves something to be desired, but this is unavoidable due to the resolution of the scanner I am using.
In what follows, the moves of the pieces are described as if the
piece were `black', ie: playing 'up' the board. To get the move for the
white piece, simply rotate all directions (and the piece!) through 180
degrees.
A circle means that the piece can move to the square so marked.
An arrow means the piece may move any number of squares in that
direction.
A cross means that the piece may move to that square, jumping other
pieces if necessary.
The moken and its move look like this:
The moken moves one square orthogonally sideways, backwards, or diagonally forward ( ie: n-w, n-e, e, s, w). Initially, each side has one moken. Blacks moken is sited at k10, whites at a2. The moken promotes to Violent Wolf.
The toen and its move look like this:
The toen moves one square orthogonally forwards or backwards, or diagonally forward ( ie: n-w, n, n-e, s). Initially, each side has one toen. Blacks toen is sited at k2, whites at a10. The toen promotes to Violent Stag.
The unju and its move look like this:
The unju moves any number of squares orthogonally forwards or backwards; one square orthogonally sideways or backwards; or one, two or three squares diagonally forwards. Initially, each side has one unju. Blacks unju is sited at j2, whites at b10. The unju does not promote.
The kakugyoku and its move look like this:
The kakugyoku moves one square in any direction. Each side has one kakugyoku. Blacks kakugyoku is sited at k6, whites at a6. The kakugyoku does not promote.
The keihi and its move look like this:
The keihi moves one square orthogonally sideways or diagonally forward (ie: w, n-w, n-e or e). Each side has one keihi. Blacks keihi is sited at k4, whites at k8. The keihi promotes to Raiding Falcon.
The hiyo and its move look like this:
The hiyo moves any number of squares in a diagonal direction, or one square forward. Each side has one hiyo. Blacks hiyo is sited at j10, whites at b2. The hiyo promotes to Tenacious Falcon.
The ganhi and its move look like this:
The ganhi moves one squareorthogonallly forwards or backwards oe one square diagonally forward (ie: n-w, n, n-e, s). Each side has one ganhi. Blacks ganhi is sited at k8, whites at a4. The ganhi promotes to Swallows Wings.
The fuba and its move look like this:
The fuba moves any number of squares orthogonally forwards or backwards or one or two squares orthogonally backwards. Each side has one fuba. Blacks fuba is sited at k1, whites at a11. The fuba promotes to Heavenly Horse.
The gisha and its move look like this:
The gisha moves any number of squares orthogonally forwards. Each side has one gisha. Blacks gisha is sited at k11, whites at a1. The gisha promotes to Plodding Ox.
The soto and its move look like this:
The soto moves any number of squares orthogonally forwards, or one square diagonally, or one square orthogonally backwards. Each side has one soto. Blacks soto is sited at i4, whites at c8. The soto promotes to Treacherous Fox.
The jakufu and its move look like this:
The jakufu moves one square orthogonally forwards. Each side has eleven jakufu. Blacks jakufu are sited at i1, i2, i3, i5, i6, i7, i9, i10, i11, h4 & h8, whites at c1, c2, c3, c5, c6, c7, c9, c10, c11, d4 & d8. The jakufu promotes to Golden Bird.
The uko and its move look like this:
The suko moves one square diagonally backwards, or one square orthogonally forwards (ie: n, s-e, s-w). Each side has one uko. Blacks uko is sited at k9, whites at a3. The uko promotes to Flying Falcon.
The en'u and its move look like this:
The en'u moves one square orthogonally forwards or backwards (ie: n, s), or any number of squares orthogonally sidewayse (ie: w, e) Each side has one en'u. Blacks en'u is sited at j6, whites at b6. The en'u promotes to Gliding Swallow.
The shiko and its move look like this:
The shiko moves one square orthogonally forwards (ie: n), or one square diagonally backwards (ie: s-w, s-e). Each side has one shiko. Blacks shiko is sited at k9, whites at a3. The shiko promotes to Cloud-Eagle.
The onko and its move look like this:
The onko moves one or two square orthogonally forwards or backwards or one or two squares diagonally forwards or backwards. Each side has one onko. Blacks onko is sited at i8, whites at c4. The onko does not promote.
The moroku and its move look like this:
The moroku moves one square orthogonally forwards or one square diagonally forwards or backwards (ie: . Each side has one moroku. Blacks moroku is sited at k5, whites at a7. The moroku promotes to Roaming Boar.
The moro and its move look like this:
The moro moves one square orthogonally forwards, backwards or sideways, or one square diagonally forwards (ie: w, n-w, n, n-e, e, s). Each side has one moro. Blacks moro is sited at k5, whites at a7. The moro promotes to Bear's Eyes.
The yugan and its move look like this:
The yugan is a promoted moro. The yugan moves one square in any direction.
The enko and its move look like this:
The enko is a promoted Swallow's Wings. The enko moves any number of squares in an orthogonal direction (ie: a rooks move).
The kincho and its move look like this:
The kincho is a promoted Sparrow Pawn. The kincho moves one square orthogonally forwards, backwards or sideways, or one square diagonally forwards (ie: w, n-w, n, n-e, e, s).
The tenba and its move look like this:
The tenba is a promoted Liberated Horse. The tenba moves two squares orthogonally forwards or backwards followed by one square orthogonally sideways (ie: a knights move).
The sengyu and its move look like this:
The sengyu is a promoted Oxcart. The sengyu moves one square in any direction.
The enyo and its move look like this:
The enyo is a promoted Flying Cock. The enyo moves one square orthogonally sideways or diagonally forwards or any number of squares orthogonally forwards or backwards.
The kocho and its move look like this:
The kocho is a promoted Violent Stag. The kocho moves one square in any direction except orthogonally backwards.
The keiyo and its move look like this:
The keiyo is a promoted Flying Falcon. The keyio moves any number of squares orthogonally forwards, backwards or diagonally, or one square orthogonally sideways.
| The Initial Setup |
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The diagram below was scanned in (with permission) from the leaflet describing Wa Shogi which is supplied by G F Hodges.
At the start of play, the board is set up like this:
Notation
Wa shogi notation is the same algebraic form as that of shogi.
| The Wa Shogi Rules |
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Wa-shogi rules are the same as for normal Shogi except that drops are not allowed.