Japanese Chess: the rules of the game

At leisure in the Land of the Rising Sun play Japanese chess - an analogue of European, but with some differences. Lovers and professionals will easily master the new technique, since there is nothing complicated in it. The main thing is to remember that sago is a logical game, and the rest will come with practice.

Historical overview

The prototype, on the basis of which our chess and Japanese shogi originated, was popular in ancient India. At the initial stage of formation was a plaited board on which in one or another order moved identical figures.

Over the centuries, this chess field migrated to the West first, and later to China, from where it reached Japan. In all parts of the world this logical game, strangely enough, had similar rules. The principal differences seem to lie in the figures themselves, because we use chisels, like silhouettes, and in the east we use plates with hieroglyphs. But here there are similarities, because these same hieroglyphs in translation mean virtually the same names as we have: King, Horse, Rook, pawn, etc.

Playing field

The description of the Japanese version of chess itself will begin with the basics, that is, from the battlefield. The board for the shogi consists of 81 cells, that is 9x9, and they are not marked in any way, neither by letters, nor by numbers. Color differences on it are absent, each cell is no different from all the others.

It is important to know that segiban is not a folding board, but a table on legs, on the surface of which the field for playing is cut. On the right side of each player is a comedian. This is another small table, on which the captured figures are put.

In their country, Japanese chess is a sacred game, it can even have a ritual character. Therefore, quality and rare sigibanes are often the most worthy decoration of houses. Naturally, there are such "little tables" sometimes a fortune.

Names and features of figures

The game of Japanese chess is complicated not only by the lack of numbering on the field, but also by the complete identity of the figures. All of them are equally sharpened under a pentahedron and differ from each other only by hieroglyphics, which are depicted on them.

Even more surprised when you discover that black and white - this concept is ephemeral. The belonging of a particular figure is determined by the direction of its pointed edge - it always looks at the opponent.

In themselves, pawns have exactly the same color. In the game, 20 figures are used for each player, among them 8 titles. They are distinguished by drawings of moves, values and strength. Below is an illustration, where the meaning of each hieroglyph that occurs in the game of the shogi is translated.

In the very middle of the field the Transformation Zone was conducted. Passing your figure to the territory of the enemy, you increase its value. About how exactly, we'll tell you later.

We arrange the figures and go

In principle, it is not so hard to remember all Japanese chess. How to play them, by what rules to move? This is the next question to consider. So:

1. The King's move is similar to his move in classical chess.
2. The golden general repeats the drawing of the king exactly, but he can not move back diagonally.
3. The silver general can move one square forward, and diagonally - in any direction, but again on the same field.
4. The horse moves, like ours, along the letter "G", but only in a rectilinear direction.
5. The spear moves vertically only forward and on any number of fields.
6. Pawns in all versions of the game are identical. Only if you play Japanese chess, you will not have to beat obliquely, but straight.
7. The lad in Japan is moved like we do, vertically and horizontally to any number of cells. It is noteworthy that crossing the Transformation Zone, he becomes the Dragon King and can also move one field diagonally in any direction.
8. An elephant, like in chess, can walk diagonally to any distance, unless its path is blocked by other figures. On the territory of the enemy becomes Knight-dragon and walks not only as before, but also directly on one cage in any direction.

How is the transformation

Probably, you noticed in the above description that some figures, reaching the house of the enemy, change their properties - it was the Rook and the Elephant. But it is important to add that metamorphoses occur with all the participants of the sigiban, with the exception of the King and the Golden General. It turns out that the Silver General, the Horse, the Spear and pawns also acquire new properties, passing through the central line, and to be more precise become Gold generals. To do this, simply turn the corresponding pentahedral plate. Of course, they also acquire new properties of the stroke, inherent in a more valuable figure.

We start playing Japanese chess

The rules of the game almost duplicate the familiar chess. Each participant alternately makes his move one of the figures, taking into account the rules of her movement. Both opponents tend to the same goal - to put the mat to the enemy King.

A mat in chess is called the position of the King under the impact of the opponent's figure. There is either a direct battle, or he does not have the opportunity to escape from under attack.

"Taking" the figures

But, as we have already said, "broken" pawns are formed on a special small table, which, oddly enough, can also be used. Having defeated one of the enemy figures, you can put it on the field, and it will be yours. Using this figure, it's worth remembering simple rules:

• The pawn should not appear on the vertical, on which there is still unconverted, another pawn.
• You can not put a figure in such a way that it can not make a single move.
• It is forbidden to mumble the pawn that you are exhibiting. Be like her at least once.

Assessment of the importance of figures

Chess players around the world are counting not by the number of figures they have, but by their importance. The unit of measurement is a pawn, that is, its value is equal to 1. Elephant and Horse are equated to 3, Rook's value is equal to 5, and Queen gets as much as 9. Japanese chess is calculated in a completely different way.

Segas - a game in which to take into account the specific position of the figure on the board, and only on the basis of this, determine its value. The fault is the transformations, which we described earlier. Let's find out what the assessment of the main characters in this game is:

• Pawn - equal to 1 point.
• Spear - we estimate in 5.
• The horse is equated to 6.
• The silver general was awarded 8.
• The Golden General - 9.
• The converted silver general is the Golden General, hence he is 9.
• The converted spear is considered as 10.
• The converted horse is also 10.
• The converted pawn is estimated at 12 points.
• The elephant is rated at 13.
• Rook - 15 points.
• The transformed elephant is 15.
• Rook turned - 17, the most valuable character.

End of the game

Like any other board games, Japanese chess ends either with the victory of one of the participants, or with a draw. You can end the game in the following circumstances:

1. More than four repetitions of the stroke. To avoid losing, players can deliberately repeat the same moves. If this phenomenon is duplicated 4 times, the game ends in a draw.
2. In the case when each of the Kings is in the enemy camp, it is impossible to place the mate. There is a calculation of the figures by their value. If the score for each participant is higher than 24, a draw is declared. Whoever has less than this figure is the loser.
3. The eternal shah in the shogi is forbidden, it is impossible to force it with a draw. Repeating the same position three times, the player must change tactics, or he must declare himself a loser.
4. The last option for the end of the game is, of course, mate.

Tactical features of the game

Having mastered a few basic rules, we will try to reveal some secrets of the sega, which allow us to look more broadly at the essence of what is happening. Firstly, Japanese chess is a very tense action, in which the situation gets aggravated literally with every move. The reason for this is the "taken" figures, which the enemy can put on the field as their own.

In theory, such a party can last indefinitely, because there is no place for a standard chess endgame. But, as practice shows, rivals often have 60 to 180 moves (if compared with the terminology of our chess, then half-way, after all, one whole is considered as a half-way in the sagas).

Due to this range of actions you, as a player, can take advantage of a small secret that will allow you to gain an advantage over your opponent. Try to "kill" the maximum number of enemy figures, because afterwards they will become turned, therefore, more valuable already directly for you. For such an advantage, you will have to sacrifice your camp, so do it wisely. Do not substitute pawns for battle (after all, their value in the hands of the enemy will increase at times).

The second trick is the defense of the king. The figure is priceless, because it is worth it to surround as much as possible, to block all the moves of the opponent around it. This method is called the erection of a fortress and sometimes requires the premature exchange of figures, in particular - elephants.

The third secret is old and simple. It does not matter whether you play European chess, Japanese, or even just checkers or backgammon - you should carefully calculate the opponent's moves. Keep records of what exactly your figures he zaimel and what value they will gain, appearing again on the battlefield. After all, now their forces will be directed against you.