What are some of the most famous proverbs, idioms, and key sayings about shogi? Knowing these timeless shogi proverbs and insights is essential for any aspiring player. These words of wisdom offer valuable lessons for both new and seasoned players. Try to bookmark them in your heart, and let them guide your game!
Opening Proverbs
Exchanging the rook’s pawn yields 3 benefits
飛車先の歩交換三つの得あり
ひしゃさきのふこうかん みっつのとくあり
In the opening, push pawns on odd-numbered files
序盤は奇数の歩を突け
じょばんはきすうのふをつけ
In the Bishop Exchange, don’t push the central pawn
角交換に５筋の歩を突くな
かくこうかんにごすじのふをつくな
Defend the king with three golds and silvers
玉の守りは金銀三枚
ぎょくのまもりはきんぎんさんまい
Always consider capturing first
まずは取る手から考えよ
まずはとるてからかんがえよ
Middlegame Proverbs
Match force with force
数の攻めには数の受け
かずのせめにはかずのうけ
Watch the edges
端に手あり
hashiniteari
Trade one for two, even if the one is just a pawn
二枚換えなら歩ともせよ
にまいがえならふともせよ
Prioritize piece activity over material
駒の損得より駒の働き
こまのそんとくよりこまのうごき
Secure the fifth rank and hold it tight
位を取ったら位の確保
くらいをとったらくらいのかくほ
Endgame Proverbs
An early king escape saves eight moves
玉の早逃げ8手の得あり
gyokunohayanigehattenotokuari
A check is a chasing move
王手は追う手
ootewaoute
Surround the king as you attack
玉は包むように寄せよ
gyokuwa tsutsumu youniyoseyo
Drive the king to the back rank
玉は下段に落とせ
gyokuwagedan niotose
In the endgame, prioritize speed over material
終盤は駒の損得より速度
しゅうばんはこまのそんとくよりそくど
Short forced mate over long mate
長い詰みより短い必至
ながいつみよりみじかいひっし
Without gold, there’s no defense
金なし将棋に受け手なし
きんなししょうぎにうけてなし
Target the defending gold
守りの金を狙え
まもりのきんをねらえ
Proverbs for the Pawn
With 3 pawns, use Joining and Dangling Pawns
三歩持ったら継ぎ歩と垂れ歩
さんぷもったらつぎふとたれふ
Illegal two pawns can often lead to brilliant moves
二歩には好手が多い
にふにわこうしゅがおおい
A game without pawns is a losing game
歩のない将棋は負け将棋
ふのないしょうぎわまけしょうぎ
A promoted pawn equals a gold, yet surpasses it
と金は金と同じで金以上
ときんわきんとおなじできんいじょう
A pawn beneath gold is stronger than a rock
金底の歩岩より堅し
きんぞこのふ,いわよりかたし
The promoted pawn is deceptively fast
と金の遅早
ときんのおそはや
Push the edge pawn when you’re out of moves
手のない時には端歩を突け
てのないときには,hashi Fu を tsuke
Counter the silver with a pawn
歩越し銀には歩で対抗
ふごしぎんにわふでたいこう
A well-placed pawn holds the key to good moves
焦点に歩に好手あり
しょうてんのふにこうしゅあり
Proverbs for the Lance
Drop the lance on the back rank
香は下段から打て
きょうわげだんからうて
Drop the lance behind the opponent’s pawn
歩の裏から香を打て
ふのうらからきょうをうて
A pawnless lance has power beyond a bishop
歩切れの香は角以上
ふぎれのきょうわかくいじょう
Proverbs for the Knight
A high-jumping knight is easy prey for a pawn
桂の高飛び歩の餌食
けいのたかとびふのえじき
Position the knight for a future strike
桂は控えて打て
けいわひかえてうて
With three knights, a mate is guaranteed
三桂あって詰まぬ事なし
さんけいあってつまぬことなし
A king near the knight’s head is hard to lure
桂頭の玉寄せにくし
けいとうのぎょくよせにくし
Proverbs for the Silver general
A silver left unpromoted holds hidden strength
銀は成らずに好手あり
ぎんわならずにこうしゅあり
Use the silver in zigzag patterns
銀は千鳥に使え
ぎんわちどりにつかえ
A silver drop on the knight’s head is a natural tactic
桂先の銀定跡なり
けいさきのぎんじょうせきなり
Dropping a silver beside the king invites mate
玉の腹から銀を打て
ぎょくのはらからぎんをうて
Proverbs for the Gold general
Lure the opponent’s gold diagonally
金は斜めに誘え
きんわななめにさそえ
Without gold in hand, there is no defense
金なし将棋に受け手なし
きんなししょうぎにうけてなし
A retreating gold often holds a good move
金は引く手に好手あり
きんわひくてにこうしゅあり
Save the gold for the final blow
金はとどめに残せ
きんわとどめにのこせ
Rook sacrifice against gold on rank 1 is a good move
一段金に飛車捨てあり
いちだんきんにひしゃすてあり
Proverbs for the Bishop
Counter a bishop with a bishop
角には角
かくにわかく
A distant bishop holds a winning move
遠見の角に好手あり
とおみのかくにこうしゅあり
The horse’s defensive power is on par with 3 golds
馬の守りは金銀3枚
うまのまもりわきんぎんさんまい
In the opening, the bishop is more versatile than the rook
序盤は飛車より角
じょばんわひしゃよりかく
Proverbs for the Rook
Counter a rook with a rook
飛車には飛車
ひしゃにわひしゃ
Poor play, values rook over king
へぼ将棋、王より飛車を可愛がり
へぼしょうぎ,ぎょくよりひしゃをかわいがり
Utilize the rook across ranks and files
飛車は十字に使え
ひしゃわじゅうじにつかえ
A dragon one square away finds the mate
一間龍に寄せあり
いっけんりゅうによせあり
Two rooks are scarier than a demon
鬼より怖い二枚飛車
おによりこわいにまいびしゃ
Proverbs for the King
Avoid leaving the king in its starting position
居玉は避けよ
いぎょくわさけよ
A mid-rank king is harder to mate
中段玉は寄せにくし
ちゅうだんぎょくわよせにくし
Avoid bringing the king close to the rook
玉飛接近すべからず
ぎょくひせっきんすべからず
Other Proverbs
Don’t flee from a fork
両取り逃げるべからず
りょうどりにげるべからず
Place major pieces at a distance
大駒は離して打て
おおごまわ,はなしてうて
Play to the spot your opponent wants to take
敵の打ちたいところへ打て
てきのうちたいところえうて
When at a disadvantage, broaden the battlefield
不利な時は戦線拡大
ふりなときわせんせんかくだい
Bishop Exchange Strategy
Oveview:
The Bishop Exchange Strategy involves exchanging bishops early in the game, allowing you to utilize this powerful piece freely. As one of the classic opening moves, this opening can lead to various tactical variations.
Reclining Silver is a development within the Bishop Exchange strategy that arises after opting for a Static Rook formation. Following the exchange of bishops, the player advances a silver piece to the 4th rank on the 5th file. This particular setup is what gives the “Reclining Silver” its name.
The Bishop Exchange Climbing Silver goes a step further by launching an attack from the edge, sometimes sacrificing the silver. This unexpected, edge-focused assault often catches the opponent off guard, creating new opportunities for a breakthrough.
Rapid Advancing Silver is a development in the Bishop Exchange strategy after choosing a static Rook formation. After exchanging bishops, you aim to exchange the right silver piece quickly.
The Side Pawn Picker (横歩取り – Yokofudori) is a strategy where both players clash their pawns in front of their rooks while keeping their bishops’ paths open. After the rook captures an opponent’s pawn, instead of retreating, the next move is to move sideways and capture the side pawn. This is a key feature of the Yokofudori opening.
The Double Wing Attack (相掛かり – Aigakari) is a strategy where both players advance their pawns in front of their rooks. To protect their bishops, both players raise their gold generals to guard them. This opening can lead to various tactical variations.
The Cheerful Central Rook is an aggressive opening known for its proactive play. The key is to push the pawn on the 5th file all the way to the 5th rank early in the game, aiming to take control of the center and always be ready to attack.
Are you ready to crack the Anaguma? This opening system, developed by professional shogi player Takeshi Fujii, is a revolutionary strategy for breaking through your opponent’s solid Static Rook Anaguma defense. It’s one of the most effective ways to dismantle the ”Bear-in-the-Hole” defense.
Move your rook to the 6th file (the 4th one from the left) and block the bishop exchange. Focus on solid defense while waiting for your opponent’s attack. This strategy centers around passive defense and counterplay, making it one of the more accessible defensive openings for beginners within the Ranging Rook framework.
The Demon Killer is a highly aggressive opening strategy that combines the rook, bishop, and knight to break through the opponent’s formation. Known as a trap opening, it is a very famous tactical play.
Move your rook to the 7th file and boldly advance the pawn in front of it. Float the rook and add attacking pieces like the bishop, silver, and knight. The beauty of the Ishida style lies in the dynamic movements of its major pieces.
Move your rook to the 7th file (the 3rd one from the left) and block the bishop exchange. Focus on solid defense while waiting for your opponent’s attack. This strategy is all about passive defense and counterplay.
By positioning the rook on the 8th file, it confronts the opponent’s rook directly. This effectively limits the opponent’s attack while also enhancing our own offensive capabilities.
