How to Play Mini Shogi
Mini Shogi, invented by Shigenobu Kusumoto in 1970, keeps everything that makes shogi special, drops included, on a board you can learn in an evening.
Setup
- A 5×5 board. Each side has a king, gold general, silver general, bishop, rook and one pawn. From Sente's view the back rank reads king, gold, silver, bishop, rook from the left, with the pawn in front of the rook; Gote's pieces mirror them. Sente moves first.
Moves
- King: one square any direction. Gold: one square any direction except diagonally backward. Silver: one square forward, diagonally forward or diagonally backward. Pawn: one square forward. Bishop: any distance diagonally. Rook: any distance orthogonally.
- Promotion: a silver, pawn, bishop or rook that moves onto or from the far rank may promote; a pawn that reaches the far rank must. Silver and pawn promote to gold movement; the bishop becomes a dragon horse (bishop plus one step orthogonally); the rook a dragon king (rook plus one step diagonally). Promoted pieces are shown in red.
- Captures put the piece in your hand. Instead of moving, you may drop a piece from hand onto any empty square, unpromoted.
- Pawn drops may not land on the far rank, on a file already holding one of your pawns, or deliver checkmate.
- You may never leave your own king in check.
Ending
Checkmate wins. A player with no legal move loses. The same position occurring four times, or 300 plies, is a draw.
Playing on kawu
Tap a piece, then its destination; tap a piece in your hand, then an empty square, to drop it. When promotion is optional you are asked. The board is shown from your side. Hint shows the hard computer's move. Play either side against three levels, or two players on one device. Undo is allowed.
Next: Mini Shogi strategy.
Frequently asked questions
How do drops work?
Every piece you capture goes into your hand, unpromoted. On a later turn, instead of moving, you may place one of them on any empty square, facing the opponent. Dropped pieces may not be promoted on the turn they land.
Why can't I drop my pawn here?
Three pawn rules: a pawn may not be dropped on the far rank (it could never move), not on a file where you already have a pawn, and not where it gives immediate checkmate. Any other piece may be dropped on those squares.
Last updated 2026-10-21