Learn Shogi Tesuji to Gain Material and Seize the Attack

When you have just learned the rules of Shogi, it is easy to wonder where to move next once the opening ends and pieces clash in the middlegame. In such moments, the traditional tactical techniques known as shogi tesuji provide essential guidance.

Tesuji are practical guideposts for breaking down an opponent's defense with minimal investment and capturing pieces efficiently. Knowing basic techniques increases the value of each turn far beyond reckless attacks, allowing you to view the whole board clearly.

Using Major Pieces to Fork Targets

Suppose Sente has a bishop in pieces in hand: dropping that bishop to 4e threatens both the silver at 2c and the gold at 6c in Gote's camp simultaneously. A move aimed at 2 targets at once like this is called a "fork" (ryōtori). The opponent can move only 1 piece in a turn, so you are sure to obtain one of the generals.

Major pieces like the rook and bishop have long reach, so placing them near the center of the board makes it easy to target isolated defensive pieces together. When building an attack, looking for unprotected pieces in the opposing camp and aiming for forks is the quickest way to improve your middlegame.

When major pieces promote into dragons or horses, their influence grows even stronger, increasing the power of forks. Even against a solid defense, applying tesuji aimed at separated gold and silver generals breaks down the formation and keeps attacking momentum on your side.

• Spot undefended pieces: Pieces in the opponent's camp that lack protection from other pieces become prime targets for forks.
• Watch the diagonal reach: Because the bishop's influence crosses diagonally across the board, it can target separated pieces on both sides simultaneously.

Play in the app

Putting these concepts into practice on the board is the fastest way to learn. Play to the end against an AI that thinks on your device, even with no signal.

Pawn Tesuji to Establish Footholds

Suppose in this position, Gote's king is on 2a, the gold is on 3b, and Sente drops a pawn in hand onto 2c. Dropping a pawn directly in front of an opponent's defensive piece with the intent to advance and promote next is called a "dangling pawn" (tarefu). However, in this diagram, the gold on 3b has influence on 2c, so the dropped pawn would simply be captured by that gold. A proper dangling pawn should be dropped onto a square beyond the opponent's influence so you can create a tokin on the next move.

A pawn is the least valuable piece, but once it enters deep into the promotion zone and promotes, it becomes tremendously useful. A dangling pawn dropped where opposing pieces cannot reach will create a tokin and breach the camp if ignored, making it hard to defend. Mastering pawns gives you a substantial advantage in material trades.

When using pawn tesuji, be mindful of illegal moves in Shogi. Dropping a pawn on the same file where you already have an unpromoted pawn results in Two Pawns (nifu), and delivering checkmate by dropping a pawn leads to drop pawn mate, both resulting in a loss by illegal move. Avoid infractions while dropping pawns onto critical points to build strong footholds for your major pieces to invade.

Tips for Gaining Material to Secure an Edge

The golden rule for securing an edge in the middlegame is gaining material. Gaining material refers to trading pieces to obtain something of higher value, or capturing an opponent's piece unilaterally. Even a 1-pawn trade widens your attacking options simply by adding pieces in hand.

To evaluate trades, understand the relative value of each piece. Lances and knights are generally worth more than pawns; silvers and golds are worth more than those; and bishops and rooks hold the highest value. For example, trading a small piece for an enemy gold or silver is a major gain. Reviewing the game record afterward to see which trades worked well sharpens your positional judgment.

In real games, playing through varied positions with smartphone apps helps build intuition. Practicing in an environment like 『Grand Court』, where you can test tesuji while tracking your dan and kyu ranks, offers great training. Pulling off a clean fork or dangling pawn during a live game is deeply satisfying.

Be cautious, as fixating solely on capturing pieces can leave your own king vulnerable. Use tesuji to check enemy attacking pieces before they approach your camp, then surround the opponent's king with the pieces you have captured. Applying tesuji calmly will steer the middlegame smoothly in your favor.

Play in the app

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