Maybe you can't travel to Japan right now, but you can learn how to play a classic Japanese game! Shogi is very similar to chess, but it is a little more complex. Also, the pieces have the names written in Japanese characters, so if you don't know the language, keeping track of which one is which is more challenging.
If you're looking for ways to exercise your brain, learning how to play Shogi is a fun way to do it.
Unique Features of Shogi
From AncientChess.com
- The opposing armies are not indicated by different colors, but by orientation on the board. Note that each piece always points toward the opponent.
- All of the pieces, except for the king and gold (described below), may promote to gain new powers. The promoted value is on the flip side of the piece, and is often shown in red calligraphy, usually written in a cursive style.
- What makes shogi truly unique among chess forms is this: On a player’s turn to move, he may, instead of moving one of the pieces on the board, choose to place one of the pieces he has captured back into play.
READ MORE: How to Play Shogi