Learn

How to Play

There are many guidebooks online and in print, but one of the easiest places to start is with lishogi.org's learn page. It provides an interactive board and puzzles aimed at teaching the basic mechanics of the game. You can also use the settings icon in the upper right to change the piece styles if you have trouble remembering the kanji or prefer a different font.

Strategies and Tactics

Once you've learned the basic rules, you can jump right in and start playing or, if you'd like to get more information on strategies, check out some of the below videos and guides:

• (ENG SUB) JSA Shogi Beginner Lectures

  The Japan Shogi Association (Nihon Shogi Renmei) released a series of videos designed to help beginners understand the basic strategies behind the game. These lectures come with English subtitles and cover the fundamental concepts that all beginners should know. This is a great second step after learning the rules.

• I-Tsu-Tsu Shogi Blog

  Women's Professional Akiko Nakakura runs a bilingual blog where she hosts various articles and essays on strategies and study methods, but also on various cultural aspects of shogi, and on raising children as well. If shogi is a game you'd like to play with family, or if you're looking to get more of a feel for the cultural side of the game, this is an excellent place to start.

• Hidetchi's How to Play Shogi Series

  Tomohide Kawasaki, known online as "Hidetchi", is perhaps the most prolific shogi promoter in the English speaking world. For a time, outside of niche mailing lists and books, Hidetchi's videos were the only easily available English materials covering the rules and strategies of shogi online. He is one of the creators of 81Dojo, developed an international piece set, and has helped translate and write several books on shogi, including a dictionary on terminology. While not very active recently, his videos are still regarded as some of the best ways to learn the game more in-depth.

• Shogi Harbour's Tips for Beginners Series

  Shogi Harbour is run by Karolina "Karo" Fortin, the first non-Japanese Women's Professional shogi player. While she has since retired from playing professionally, she continues to be an active promoter and teacher, hosting annual online tournaments, managing the largest international shogi Discord server, and continuing to release videos about shogi on a regular basis. You can find out more about her and the Harbour on her website: shogiharbour.com

• Shogi Harbour Wiki

  Started by Karolina, this Wiki is updated by members of the Shogi Harbour Discord to provide information on many different aspects of shogi, including castles, openings, and shogi pro players.