taikyoku shogi

Taikyoku shogi is very different from other large-board shogi variants: tenjiku shogi, dai dai shogi, maka dai dai shogi, and tai shogi. The most notable differences lie with the piece movements and their promotions.

The objective of the game is to capture the opponent's king(s) and prince(s). When the last of these is captured, the game ends. There are no rules for check or checkmate; however, in practice a player resigns when checkmated. Unlike standard shogi, pieces may not be dropped back into play after being captured.

Two players, Black and White (or 先手 sente and 後手 gote), play on a board ruled into a grid of 36 ranks (rows) by 36 files (columns) with a total of 1,296 squares. The squares are differentiated by marking or color.

Each player has a set of 402 wedge-shaped pieces of 207 types. The players must remember 253 sets of moves. The pieces are of slightly different sizes with the larger pieces near the king and becoming progressively smaller for pieces further from the king, regardless of power. In general, the stronger pieces are nearer to the king.

Several of the English names were chosen to correspond to rough equivalents in Western chess, rather than as translations of the Japanese names.

Each piece has its name in the form of two or three kanji written on its face. On the reverse side of some pieces are two or three other characters, often in a different color (commonly red instead of black); this reverse side is used to indicate that the piece has been promoted during play. The pieces of the two sides do not differ in color, but instead each piece is shaped like a wedge, and faces forward, toward the opposing side. This shows who controls the piece during play.

Listed below are the pieces of the game and, if they promote, which pieces they promote to. Promotions prefaced with a star are not also represented as their own pieces, existing only as promotions.

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(Sometimes the queen is called the "free king", a direct translation of its Japanese name. The kirin's name is sometimes anglicised as kylin.)

File:TaikyokuShogiSente.svg

Below is a diagram showing the setup of one player's pieces. The way one player sees their own pieces is the same way the opposing player will see their pieces.

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;Legend

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: AB – Angry boar

: B – Bishop

: BA – Running Bear

: BB – Blind Bear

: BC – Beast Cadet

: BD – Buddhist Devil

: BE – Bear Soldier

: BG – Bishop General

: BI – Blind Dog

: BL – Blue Dragon

: BM – Blind Monkey

: BN – Burning Soldier

: BO – Beast Officer

: BS – Boar Soldier

: BT – Blind Tiger

: C – Copper General

: CA – Capricorn

: CC – Chinese Cock

: CD – Ceramic Dove

: CE – Cloud Eagle

: CG – Chicken General

: CH – Chariot Soldier

: CI – Stone Chariot

: CK – Flying Cock

: CL – Cloud Dragon

: CM – Climbing Monkey

: CN – Center Standard

: CO – Captive Officer

: CP – Prince

: CR – Copper Chariot

: CS – Cat Sword

: CT – Captive Cadet

: D – Dog

: DE – Drunken Elephant

: DG – Roaring Dog

: DH – Dragon Horse

: DK – Dragon King

: DM – Fire Demon

: DO – Donkey

: DS – Dark Spirit

: DV – Deva

: EA – Earth General

: EB – Enchanted Badger

: EC – Earth Chariot

: ED – Earth Dragon

: EG – Fierce Eagle

: EL – Soaring Eagle

: ES – Eastern Barbarian

: EW – Evil Wolf

: F – Fire General

: FC – Flying Cat

: FD – Flying Dragon

: FE – Free Eagle

: FG – Fragrant Elephant

: FH – Flying Horse

: FI – Fire Dragon

: FL – Ferocious Leopard

: FO – Forest Demon

: FP – Free Pup

: FR – Free Demon

: FS – Flying Swallow

: FT – Free Dream-Eater

: FY – Flying Goose

: G – Gold General

: GB – Go Between

: GC – Gold Chariot

: GD – Great Dragon

: GE – Great Standard

: GG – Great General

: GL – Golden Deer

: GM – Great Master

: GN – Wood General

: GO – Golden Bird

: GR – Great Dove

: GS – Great Stag

: GT – Great Turtle

: GU – Guardian of the Gods

: H – Horse General

: HD – Howling Dog

: HE – Ram's-Head Soldier

: HF – Horned Falcon

: HM – Hook-Mover

: HO – Horseman

: HR – Running Horse

: HS – Horse Soldier

: I – Iron General

: K – King

: KM – Kirin-Master

: KR – Kirin

: L – Lance

: LB – Longbow Soldier

: LC – Left Chariot

: LD – Lion Dog

: LE – Left Dragon

: LG – Left General

: LH – Liberated Horse

: LI – Lion Hawk

: LL – Little Turtle

: LN – Lion

: LO – Long-Nosed Goblin

: LP – Leopard Soldier

: LS – Little Standard

: LT – Left Tiger

: M – Mountain General

: MF – Mountain Falcon

: MK – Side Monkey

: ML – Left Mountain Eagle

: MR – Right Mountain Eagle

: MS – Mountain Stag

: MT – Center Master

: N – Knight

: NB – Northern Barbarian

: NK – Neighboring King

: NT – Violent wolf

: O – Ox General

: OC – Oxcart

: OK – Old Kite

: OM – Old Monkey

: OR – Old Rat

: OS – Ox Soldier

: OW – Swooping Owl

: OX – Flying Ox

: P – Pawn

: PC – Peacock

: PG – Pup General

: PH – Phoenix

: PI – Pig General

: PM – Phoenix-Master

: PR – Prancing Stag

: PS – Poisonous Snake

: Q – Queen

: R – Rook

: RA – Rain Dragon

: RB – Rushing Bird

: RC – Right Chariot

: RD – Reclining Dragon

: RE – River General

: RG – Right General

: RH – Running Chariot

: RI – Right Dragon

: RM – Roc-Master

: RN – Running Stag

: RO – Rook General

: RP – Running Pup

: RR – Running Rabbit

: RS – Rear Standard

: RT – Running Tiger

: RU – Running Serpent

: RV – Reverse Chariot

: RW – Running Wolf

: S – Silver General

: SA – Side Boar

: SC – Crossbow Soldier

: SD – Front Standard

: SE – Sword Soldier

: SF – Side-Flyer

: SG – Stone General

: SI – Side Dragon

: SL – Side Soldier

: SM – Side Mover

: SN – Coiled Serpent

: SO – Soldier

: SP – Spear Soldier

: SQ – Square-Mover

: SR – Silver Rabbit

: SS – Side Serpent

: ST – Strutting Crow

: SU – Southern Barbarian

: SV – Silver Chariot

: SW – Swallow's Wings

: SX – Side Ox

: T – Tile General

: TC – Tile Chariot

: TD – Turtle Dove

: TF – Treacherous Fox

: TG – Savage Tiger

: TS – Turtle-snake

: TT – Right Tiger

: VB – Violent Bear

: VD – Violent Dragon

: VE – Vertical Bear

: VG – Vice General

: VH – Vertical Horse

: VI – Vermillion Sparrow

: VL – Vertical Leopard

: VM – Vertical Mover

: VO – Violent Ox

: VP – Vertical Pup

: VR – Vertical Soldier

: VS – Violent Stag

: VT – Vertical Tiger

: VW – Vertical Wolf

: W – Whale

: WA – Water Dragon

: WB – Water Buffalo

: WC – Wood Chariot

: WD – Wind Dragon

: WE – White Elephant

: WF – Side Wolf

: WG – Water General

: WH – White Horse

: WL – Woodland Demon

: WN – Wind General

: WO – Wooden Dove

: WR – Wrestler

: WS – Western Barbarian

: WT – White Tiger

: YA – Yaksha

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The Howling Dog pieces (HD) are placed on the left and right depending on their promotions; the Howling dog that promotes to a Left Dog on the left, and the Howling Dog that promotes to a Right Dog on the right.

The queen could also be abbreviated FK (for free king) and the kirin as Ky (for kylin).

The players alternate making a move, with Black moving first. (The traditional terms 'black' and 'white' are used to differentiate the sides during discussion of the game, but are no longer literally descriptive.) A move consists of moving a single piece on the board and potentially promoting that piece or displacing (capturing) an opposing piece.

Most pieces in the game move in a unique manner. An opposing piece is captured by displacement: That is, if a piece moves to a square occupied by an opposing piece, the opposing piece is displaced and removed from the board. A piece cannot move to a square occupied by a friendly piece (meaning another piece controlled by the moving player).

Each piece on the game moves in a characteristic pattern. Pieces move either orthogonally (that is, forward, backward, left, or right, in the direction of one of the arms of a plus sign, +), or diagonally (in the direction of one of the arms of a multiplication sign, ×). The lion, lion hawk and knight are exceptions at the beginning of the game, in that they do not move, or are not required to move, in a straight line. (The Buddhist spirit, teaching king, heavenly horse and furious fiend are similar, but they only appear as pieces promote.)

Many pieces are capable of several kinds of movement, with the type of movement most often depending on the direction in which they move. The movement categories are:

Some pieces move only one square at a time. (If a friendly piece occupies an adjacent square, the moving piece may not move in that direction; if an opposing piece is there, it may be displaced and captured.)

The step movers are the prince, generals (except: bishop, rook, pig, vice, great and wood), wolves, earth dragon, running horse, running rabbit, turtle snake, turtle dove, flying swallow, rain dragon, mountain stag, running pup, running serpent, side serpent, yaksha, Buddhist devil, violent stag, drunken elephant, neighboring king, chariots (except: reverse, running and copper), right tiger, left tiger, wind dragon, free pup, rushing bird, old kite, bears (except running), side boar, cloud eagle, flying cat, little standard, cloud dragon, soldiers (except soldier and chariot), violent ox, dark spirit, deva, howling dog, side mover, prancing stag, ferocious leopard, fierce eagle, poisonous snake, flying goose, strutting crow, blind dog, Chinese cock, phoenix, kirin, side ox, angry boar, liberated horse, flying cock, monkeys, barbarians, vermillion sparrow, swooping owl, old rat, cat sword, swallow's wings, blind tiger, side flyer, coiled serpent, reclining dragon, go between, dog, vertical mover, vertical pup, vertical horse, dragon horse, dragon king and pawn.

Some pieces can move along a limited number (2 to 7) of free (empty) squares along a straight line in certain directions. Other than the limited distance, they move like ranging pieces (see below).

The limited ranging pieces are the king, standards, free dream-eater, wooden dove, dragons (except: rain, side, wind, cloud, flying and reclining), demons, beast cadet, mountain eagle, white tiger, ceramic dove, turtle dove, captive officer, mountain stag, side serpent, great dove, running tiger, running bear, yaksha, Buddhist devil, guardian of the Gods, wrestler, gold chariot, running stag, beast officer, free pup, rushing bird, old kite, peacock, phoenix master, kirin master, silver chariot, vertical bear, pig general, chicken general, horse general, ox general, silver rabbit, golden deer, captive cadet, great stag, stone chariot, cloud eagle, mountain falcon, vertical tiger, copper chariot, golden bird, prancing stag, water buffalo, fierce eagle, water general, mountain general, fire general, turtles, vertical wolf, donkey, enchanted badger, flying horse, angry boar, violent bear, liberated horse, barbarians, center master, roc master, horseman, soldiers (except: rook, ram's-head, spear and sword), wing general, wind general, wood general, great master and roaring dog.

Several pieces can jump, that is, they can pass over any intervening piece, whether friend or foe, with no effect on either.

The jumping pieces are the wooden dove, running horse, mountain eagle, phoenix master, kirin master, knight, lion, great stag, vice general, flying cat, mountain falcon, golden bird, flying dragon, phoenix, kirin, turtles, treacherous fox, center master, roc master, free eagle, lion hawk, great master, horned falcon, soaring eagle, roaring dog and lion dog.

Many pieces can move any number of empty squares along a straight line, limited only by the edge of the board. If an opposing piece intervenes, it may be captured by moving to that square and removing it from the board. A ranging piece must stop where it captures, and cannot bypass a piece that is in its way. If a friendly piece intervenes, the moving piece is limited to a distance that stops short of the intervening piece; if the friendly piece is adjacent, it cannot move in that direction at all.

The ranging pieces are the standards, queen, free dream-eater, wooden dove, dragons (except: violent, flying and reclining), demons, running horse, mountain eagle, whale, running rabbit, tigers (except blind), turtle snake, ceramic dove, lance, oxcart, chariots, flying swallow, running pup, running serpent, great dove, running bear, running stag, running wolf, free pup, phoenix master, kirin master, vertical bear, side boar, silver rabbit, golden deer, great stag, cloud eagle, bishop, rook, side wolf, mountain falcon, soldiers (except: sword, burning and crossbow), violent ox, golden bird, white horse, howling dog, side mover, water buffalo, turtles, vertical wolf, side ox, liberated horse, treacherous fox, roc master, vermillion sparrow, horseman, swallow's wings, side flyer, great master, side monkey, vertical mover, flying ox, vertical pup, vertical horse, dragon horse, dragon king, horned falcon, soaring eagle, roaring dog and lion dog.

The hook-mover, long-nosed goblin, capricorn, and peacock can move any number of squares along a straight line, as a normal ranging piece, but may also abruptly change tack left or right by 90° at any one place along the route, and then continue as a ranging piece. Turning a corner like this is optional.

The range covered by a hook move is the equivalent of two moves by a rook, or two moves by a bishop, depending on the piece. However, a hook move is functionally a single move: The piece cannot capture twice in one move, nor may it capture and then move on. It must stop before an intervening piece (unless it first changes direction to avoid it), and must stop when it captures, just like any other ranging piece. It can only change direction once per move.

The lion and lion hawk may take multiple (2) steps in a single turn. These do not have to be in a line, so these pieces can potentially reach every square within two or three steps of the starting square, not just squares along one of the diagonals or orthogonals. Such moves are also useful to get around obstructions. An area mover must stop where it captures.

The golden bird and several promoted pieces have the option of jumping a limited number of squares, and then continuing on in the same direction as a ranging piece.

The ancient dragon may jump over any number of pieces, friend or foe, along a straight line, but only when making a capture. Otherwise it moves as a ranging piece.

The great general, vice general, rook general, bishop general, violent dragon and flying crocodile may jump over any number of pieces, friend or foe, along a diagonal or orthogonal. They capture all pieces they jump.

However, they may only jump pieces of lower rank, whether friend or foe. The relevant ranking is:

1. King, prince
2. Great general
3. Vice general
4. Rook general, bishop general, violent dragon, flying crocodile

• Step: The pawn can move one square orthogonally forward.
• Betza Notation: fW

• Step: The earth general and go between can move one square orthogonally forward or backward.
• Notation: vW
• They have the same range of movement but promote differently (see above).

• Step: The stone general can move one square diagonally forward.
• Notation: fF

Because it cannot move orthogonally or backward, a stone general can only reach less than half the squares on the board.

• Step: The iron general and dog can move one square forward, orthogonally or diagonally.
• Notation: fWfF
• They have the same range of movement but promote differently (see above).

• Step: The swooping owl, old rat and strutting crow can move one square orthogonally forward or diagonally backward.
• Notation: fWbF
• They have the same range of movement but promote differently (see above).

• Step: The tile general and sword soldier can move one square diagonally forward or orthogonally backward.
• Notation: bWfF
• They have the same range of movement but promote differently (see above).

• Step: The copper general can move one square orthogonally forward or backward, or diagonally forward.
• Notation: vWfF
• They have the same range of movement but each promotes differently (see above).

• Step: The reclining dragon can move one square in the four orthogonal directions.
• Notation: W

• Step: The coiled serpent can move one square orthogonally forward or backward; or diagonally backward.
• Notation: vWbF

• Step: The flying cock can move one square orthogonally sideways or diagonally forward.
• Notation: sWfF

• Step: The cat sword can move one square in the four diagonal directions.
• Notation: F

Because it cannot move orthogonally, a cat sword can only reach half the squares on the board.

• Step: The evil wolf can move one square orthogonally sideways or forward; or diagonally forward.
• Notation: fFfsW

• Step: The silver general and violent stag can move one square in the four diagonal directions; or one square orthogonally forward.
• Notation: FfW
• They have the same range of movement but promote differently (see above).

• Step: The blind dog and Chinese cock can move one square orthogonally backward or sideways or one square diagonally forward.
• Notation: fFbsW
• They have the same range of movement but promote differently (see above).

• Step: The old monkey can move one square in the four diagonal directions or orthogonally backward.
• Notation: FbW

• Step: The gold general and violent wolf can step one square in the four orthogonal directions or diagonally forward, giving them six possibilities.
• They cannot move diagonally backward.
• Notation: WfF
• The pieces have the same range of movement but promote differently (see above).

• Step: The ferocious leopard can move one square in the four diagonal directions; or orthogonally forward or backward.
• Notation: vK

• Step: The blind monkey and blind bear can move one square in the four diagonal directions or orthogonally sideways.
• Notation: sK

• Step: The drunken elephant, neighboring king and rushing boar can move one square in any direction, orthogonal or diagonal, except orthogonally backward.
• Notation: fsK
• They have the same range of movement but promote differently (see above).

• Step: The Deva can move one square in any direction orthogonally or diagonally, except diagonally forward to the right.
• Notation: WflFbF

• Step: The dark spirit can move one square in any direction orthogonally or diagonally, except diagonally forward to the left.
• Notation: WfrFbF

• Step: The blind tiger can move one square in any direction, orthogonal or diagonal, except orthogonally forward.
• Notation: bsK

• Step: The prince, left and right generals, bear's eyes and venomous wolf can step one square in any direction, orthogonal or diagonal.
• Notation: K
• A prince may move into check (not recommended).
• The pieces have the same range of movement but promote differently (see above).

• Limited range: The wood general can move one or two squares diagonally forward.
• Notation: fB2

• Limited range: The donkey and enchanted badger can move one or two squares in the four orthogonal directions.
• Notation: R2
• Their range of movement and promotions are the same.

• Limited range: The flying horse can move one or two squares in the four diagonal directions.
• Notation: B2

• Limited range: The beast cadet can move one or two squares orthogonally forward, sideways or in the four diagonal directions.
• Notation: B2fsR2

• Limited range: The king, fragrant elephant and white elephant can move one or two squares in any direction, orthogonal or diagonal.
• Notation: Q2
• The king may move into check (not recommended).
• The elephants have the same promotion.

• Step: The rushing bird can move one square orthogonally sideways or in the four diagonal directions.
• Limited range: It can move one or two squares orthogonally forward.
• Notation: FfsWfnD

• Step: The angry boar can move one square orthogonally forward or sideways; or
• Limited range: It can move one or two squares diagonally forward.
• Notation: fB2fsW

• Limited range: The violent bear can move one or two squares diagonally forward.
• Step: It can move one square orthogonally sideways.
• Step: One version of the game has the violent bear moving one square orthogonally forward; another version has it moving one square diagonally backward.
• Notation: fB2fsW (or FsWfnA in the other version)

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• Limited range: The eastern barbarian and western barbarian can move one or two squares orthogonally forward or backward.
• Step: They can move one square orthogonally sideways or diagonally forward.
• Notation: WfFvnD
• They have the same range of movement but promote differently (see above).

• Limited range: The northern barbarian, southern barbarian and prancing stag can move one or two squares orthogonally sideways.
• Step: They can move one square orthogonally forward or backward or diagonally forward.
• Notation: WfFsnD
• They have the same range of movement but promote differently (see above).

• Step: The poisonous snake can move one square orthogonally backward or diagonally forward.
• Limited range: It can moves one or two squares orthogonally forward or sideways.
• Notation: WfFfsnD

Kite here refers to the bird of prey.

• Limited range: The old kite can move one or two squares in the four diagonal directions; or
• Step: It can move one square orthogonally sideways.
• Notation: B2sW

• Limited range: The fierce eagle can move one or two squares in the four diagonal directions.
• Step: It can move one square orthogonally forward or sideways.
• Notation: B2fsW

• Limited range: The guardian of the gods can move one to three squares in the four orthogonal directions.
• Notation: R3

• Limited range: The wrestler can move one to three squares in the four diagonal directions.
• Notation: B3

• Limited range: The captive cadet can move one to three squares orthogonally forward or sideways, or in the four diagonal directions.
• Notation: B3fsR3

When it promotes to a captive officer (see above), it demotes (moving only two squares orthogonally instead of three).

• Step: The horse general, the ox general, the wind general and the river general can move one square orthogonally backward or diagonally forward.
• Limited range: They can move one to three squares orthogonally forward.
• Notation: fFbWfR3
• These pieces and their promotions have the same range of motion.

• Step: The fire general can move one square diagonally forward.
• Limited range: It can move one to three squares orthogonally forward or backward.
• Notation: fFvR3

• Step: The water general and mountain general can move one square orthogonally forward or backward.
• Limited range: They can move one to three squares diagonally forward.
• Notation: fB3vW
• They have the same range of movement but promote differently (see above).

• Limited range: The Buddhist devil can move one to three squares diagonally forward.
• Step: It can move one square orthogonally sideways or backward.
• Notation: fR3bsW

• Step: The yaksha can move one square orthogonally backward or diagonally forward.
• Limited range: It can move one to three squares orthogonally sideways.
• Notation: fFbWsR3

• Step: The sword general can move one square orthogonally backward.
• Limited range: It can move one to three squares forward, orthogonally or diagonally.
• Notation: bWfQ3

• Limited range: The captive officer can move one or two squares orthogonally forward or sideways; or
• Limited range: It can move one to three squares in the four diagonal directions
• Notation: B3fsR2

• Limited range: The beast officer can move one or two squares orthogonally sideways.
• Limited range: It can move one to three squares orthogonally forward or in the four diagonal directions.
• Notation: B3fsR2fnH

• Limited range: The heavenly tetrarch can move one to four squares in any direction, orthogonal or diagonal.
• Notation: Q4

• Step: The chicken general and pup general can move one square diagonally backward.
• Limited range: They can move one to four squares orthogonally forward.
• Notation: bFfR4
• They have the same range of movement but promote differently (see above).

• Limited range: The pig general can move one or two squares orthogonally backward; or
• Limited range: It can move one to four squares diagonally forward.
• Notation: bR2fB4

• Step: The mountain stag can move one square orthogonally forward.
• Limited range: It can move one or two squares orthogonally sideways.
• Limited range: It can move one to three squares diagonally forward.
• Limited range: It can move one to four squares orthogonally backward.
• Notation: fB2fWsR2bR4

• Limited range: The leopard king can move one to five squares in any direction, orthogonal or diagonal.
• Notation: Q5

• Step: The turtle dove can move one square orthogonally backward or sideways.
• Limited range: It can move one to five squares diagonally forward.
• Notation: fB5bsW

• Step: The crossbow soldier can move one square orthogonally backward.
• Limited range: It can move one to three squares orthogonally sideways or diagonally forward.
• Limited range: It can move one to five squares orthogonally forward.
• Notation: fB3bWsR3fR5

• Step: The burning soldier can move one square orthogonally backward.
• Limited range: It can move one to three squares orthogonally sideways.
• Limited range: It can move one to five squares diagonally forward.
• Limited range: It can move one to seven squares orthogonally forward.
• Notation: fR5bWsR3fR7

• Ranging: The lance, oxcart and savage tiger can move any number of free squares in a straight line orthogonally forward.
• Notation: fR
• They have the same range of movement but promote differently (see above).

• Ranging: The reverse chariot can move any number of free squares in a straight line orthogonally forward or backward.
• Notation: vR

• Ranging: The side dragon can move any number of free squares in a straight line orthogonally forward or sideways.
• Notation: fsR

• Range: The mountain witch can move any number of free squares in a straight line backward, orthogonally or diagonally.
• Notation: bQ
• When it reaches the first rank, it must stay there until captured.

• Ranging: The white horse, bird of paradise and multi general can move any number of free squares in a straight line orthogonally forward or backward.
• Ranging: They can move any number of free squares in a straight line diagonally forward.
• Notation: vRfF

• Ranging: The rook, soldier, running chariot, square-mover and gliding swallow can move any number of free squares in a straight line in the four orthogonal directions.
• They have the same range of motion but promote differently (see above).
• Notation: R

• Range: The free serpent, the coiled dragon and the whale can move any number of free squares in a straight line orthogonally forward, backward, or diagonally backward.
• Notation: vRbB

• Ranging: A bishop can move any number of free squares in a straight line in the four diagonal directions.
• Notation: B

Because it cannot move orthogonally, a bishop can only reach half the squares on the board.

• Range: The free wolf and running leopard can move any number of free squares in a straight line orthogonally forward, sideways or diagonally forward.
• Notation: fBfsR

• Range: The wizard stork can move any number of free squares in a straight line orthogonally sideways, backward or diagonally forward.
• Notation: fBsbR