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ShoShogi Sho Shogi

ShoShogi

Shō Shogi (小将棋 'small chess') is a 16th-century form of Shogi (Japanese chess), and the immediate predecessor of the modern game. It is played on a 9Γ—9 board with the same setup as in modern shogi, except that an extra piece is placed in front of the king: a 'drunk elephant' that promoted into a prince, which acts like a second king. According to the Sho Shōgi Zushiki, the drunk elephant was eliminated by the Emperor Go-Nara (reigned 1526–1557), and it is assumed that the drop rule was introduced at about the same time, giving rise to shogi as it is known today.

Rules

  • No drops and no pockets. Captured pieces are not returned to play.
  • Each side has one extra piece: the Drunken Elephant.
  • The drunken elephant promotes to the Crown Prince.
  • After promotion, a side can effectively have two king-like royal pieces (king + prince).

image

The Drunken Elephant can step one square in any direction, orthogonal or diagonal, except directly backward.

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The Crown Prince can step one square in any direction, orthogonal or diagonal. The Crown Prince effectively doubles as a second king, and must also be captured to win if present.