Dai dai shogi

• Step: The king can step one square in any direction, orthogonal or diagonal. (K)

• Step: The king can step one square in any direction, orthogonal or diagonal. (K)

• Hook move: The tengu can move any number of free squares along one of the four diagonal directions, then (optionally) make a 90° turn and move any number of free squares in a perpendicular diagonal direction.

It may only change directions once per move.

• Step: It can step one square in one of the four orthogonal directions. (KmaB)

• Hook move: The hook mover can move any number of free squares along one of the four orthogonal directions, then (optionally) make a 90° turn and move any number of free squares in a perpendicular orthogonal direction. (RmasR)

It may only change directions once per move.

English sources

This is how Japanese Wikipedia describes the move in tai shogi. The two games normally have the same moves.

• Limited range: The old kite can step one or two squares in one of the four orthogonals.
• Step: It can step one square diagonally forward. (R2fF)

Japanese Wikipedia

• Range: The old kite can move any number of free squares diagonally forward.
• Limited range: It can step one or two squares orthogonally sideways. (BrlR2)

Either way, the old kite promotes to a tengu (above).

English sources

• Jump: The poisonous snake can jump to the second square directly forward or diagonally backward.
• Step: It can step one square to either side. (rlWfDbA)

Japanese Wikipedia

Japanese Wikipedia gives the same move for this piece in both dai dai shogi and tai shogi, unlike the old kite.

• Limited range: The poisonous snake can step one or two squares directly forward or to either side.
• Step: It can step one square diagonally forward or directly backward. (frlR2fFbW)

Either way, the poisonous snake promotes to a hook mover (above).

Japanese Wikipedia

• Range: The great elephant can move any number of free squares along one of the four orthogonal directions, or diagonally backward.
• Limited range: It can move up to two free squares along either of the forward diagonals. (RbBfB2)

English-language sources

• First limited range: The great elephant can move up to five free squares directly sideways or diagonally backward.
• Second limited range: It can move up to three free squares directly forward or backward, or diagonally forward. (rlR5bB5fbR3fB3)

The great elephant does not exist except as a promoted lion dog (below).

• Lion move: The furious fiend can move as a lion anywhere within a two-square distance, including jumps, double capture, igui, and passing a turn.
• Limited range: It can move (but not jump) up to three free squares along one of the eight diagonals or orthogonals. (aKnHnG)

The furious fiend does not exist except as a promoted lion (below).

Japanese Wikipedia

• Lion move/triple capture: The lion dog can make a three-step lion move along any one of the eight orthogonal or diagonal directions. That is, unlike the lion itself, but like the soaring eagle and horned falcon, it is restricted to moving along a straight line and cannot move to the in-between squares. This lion power includes jumping, igui, and skipping a turn.
  • A piece may be captured on all three steps.
  • The lion dog may capture a piece on the first and second square, and then retreat to the first square. Or it may snatch a piece off the first square as in normal igui. (Note however that it may not then continue in the opposite direction: it is restricted to one orthogonal or diagonal.)
  • It may jump to the second square, and then continue to the third square, capturing up to two pieces. Or it may jump directly to the third square.
  • It is not required to take all three steps. (KavKafavK)

As it finishes a capturing move, the lion dog promotes to a great elephant (above).

English-language sources

• Limited range: The lion dog may move up to three squares in any direction.

(This makes the promotion to great elephant beneficial, rather than a demotion as it is in the version above.) (Q3)

As it finishes a capturing move, the lion dog promotes to a great elephant (above).

• Double move: The lion can step in any direction, and capture, up to twice a turn. The two steps do not need to be in the same direction, so this move is equivalent to two turns of a king. As a piece does not promote until its turn ends, an unpromoted lion has a chance for a double capture.
  • By moving back to its starting square, it can effectively capture a piece on an adjacent square without moving. This is called 居喰い igui "stationary feeding".
  • It can also do the same to an empty square, without capturing anything. This is traditionally indicated by tapping the lion and leaving it in place.
• Jump: A lion can jump anywhere within a distance of two squares: That is, anywhere it could reach in two step-moves on an empty board, though of course it cannot land on a square occupied by a friendly piece. This is equivalent to jumping in any of the eight diagonal or orthogonal directions, or making any of the jumps of a knight in Western chess. (aK)

As it finishes a capturing move, the lion promotes to a furious fiend (above).

• Limited range: The western barbarian can move one or two squares orthogonally sideways.
• Step: It can step one square directly forward or backward, or diagonally forward. (rlR2fbWfF)

The western barbarian promotes to a lion dog (above).

English-language sources

• Limited range: The eastern barbarian can move one or two squares directly forward or backward.
• Step: It can step one square orthogonally sideways or diagonally forward. (fbR2rlWfF)

(Japanese Wikipedia only attributes this move to the piece in taikyoku shogi, which generally has different moves from dai-dai shogi.)

Japanese Wikipedia

• Limited range: The eastern barbarian can move one or two squares directly forward or backward.
• Step: It can step one square directly to the right. (fbR2rW)

(This makes the eastern and western barbarians asymmetrical, unlike the symmetrical northern and southern barbarians. However, this cannot wholly be ruled out.)

The eastern barbarian promotes to a lion (above).

• Range: The fragrant elephant can move any number of free squares along either of the forward diagonals.
• Limited range: It can move one or two squares along any of the other directions (orthogonally, or diagonally backwards). (fBR2bB2)

• Range: The white elephant can move any number of free squares diagonally backward.
• Limited range: It can move one or two square in one of the other six diagonal or orthogonal directions. (bBR2fB2)

• Limited range: The northern barbarian can move one or two squares diagonally forward.
• Step: It can step one square orthogonally sideways or diagonally backward. (fB2rlWF)

The northern barbarian promotes to a fragrant elephant (above).

• Limited range: The southern barbarian can move one or two squares diagonally backward.
• Step: It can step one square orthogonally sideways or diagonally forward. (bB2rlWF)

The southern barbarian promotes to a white elephant (above).

Japanese Wikipedia

• Range: The free dream-eater can move any number of free squares in the two forward diagonal directions, directly forward, or directly backward.
• Limited range: It can move one to five squares orthogonally sideways. (fbRfBrlR5)

English-language sources

English-language sources show ranging moves along all four diagonals. (fbRBrlR5)

Japanese Wikipedia only describes the piece this way for taikyoku shogi, which generally has different movements from dai-dai shogi.

Japanese Wikipedia

• Range: The free demon can move any number of free squares in the two forward diagonal directions, or directly sideways.
• Limited range: It can move one to five squares directly forward or backward. (rlRfBfbR5)

English-language sources

English-language sources show ranging moves along all four diagonals. (rlRBfbR5)

Japanese Wikipedia only describes the piece this way for taikyoku shogi, which generally has different movements from dai-dai shogi.

• Range: The water buffalo can move any number of free squares in the four diagonal directions, or orthogonally sideways.
• Limited range: It can move one or two squares directly forward or backward. (rlRBfbR2)

The water buffalo promotes to a free dream-eater (above).

• Range: The rushing bird can move any number of free squares in any direction, orthogonal or diagonal, except directly backwards. (BfrlR)

The rushing bird promotes to a free demon (above).

• Range: The free king can move any number of free squares in any of the eight directions, orthogonal or diagonal. (Q)

• Range: The standard bearer can move any number of free squares along any of the three forward directions (diagonal or orthogonal).
• Limited range: It can step one or two squares along any of the other directions (orthogonally sideways, diagonally backwards, or directly backwards). (Q2fQ)

• Limited range: The flying horse can step one or two squares diagonally forward.
• Step: It can step one square in one of the four orthogonal directions. (fB2W)

The flying horse promotes to a free king (above).

• Step: The neighbor king can step one square in any direction, orthogonal or diagonal [except directly backwards?]. (FfrlW if not backward, K otherwise)

Note: English-language sources state that the neighbor king can step in any direction except directly backward, like the drunk elephant in other shogi variants. However, Japanese Wikipedia only describes the piece this way for taikyoku shogi, which generally has different movements from dai-dai shogi.

The neighboring king promotes to a standard bearer (above).

• Range: The mountain witch can move any number of free squares along one of the four diagonal directions, or directly backward; or,
• Step: It can step one square directly forward. (BbRfW)

The mountain witch does not exist except as a promoted blind monkey (below).

• Range: The wizard stork can move any number of free squares along one of the four diagonal directions, or directly forward; or,
• Step: It can step one square directly backward.

The wizard stork does not exist except as a promoted old rat (below). (BfRbW)

Note: Japanese Wikipedia does not show the forward move for this piece in dai dai shogi, though it does have it in other versions of the game. This may be an error, as it would be unsymmetrical with the mountain witch, and it would make this the only piece that moves differently in dai dai and maka dai dai shogi.

• Step: The blind monkey can step one square in one of the four diagonal directions or either orthogonal sideways. (FrlW)

The blind monkey promotes to a mountain witch (above).

• Limited range: The old rat can move one or two squares along a forward diagonal or the rear orthogonal, giving it three directions of movement. (fB2bR2)

The old rat has the same move as the enchanted fox (see below), but the old rat promotes to a wizard stork (above).

• First limited range: The dove can move one to five squares in one of the four diagonal directions.
• Second limited range: It can step one or two squares in one of the four orthogonal directions. (R2B5)

• First limited range: The she-devil can move one to five squares along one of the four orthogonal directions.
• Second limited range: It can step one or two squares along one of the four diagonal directions. (R5B2)

• Limited range: The enchanted badger can move one or two squares orthogonally forward or sideways. (frlR2)

The enchanted badger promotes to a dove (above).

• Limited range: The enchanted fox can move one or two squares along a forward diagonal or the rear orthogonal, giving it three directions of movement. (fB2bR2)

This is the same move as the old rat (see above), but the enchanted fox promotes to a she-devil (above).

• Range: The dragon horse can move any number of free squares along any of the four diagonal directions.
• Step: It can step one square in any orthogonal direction. (WB)

• Range: The dragon king can move any number of free squares along any of the four orthogonal directions.
• Step: It can step one square in any diagonal direction. (FR)

• Step: The cat sword can move one square in one of the four diagonal directions. (F)

Because it cannot move orthogonally, an unpromoted cat sword can only reach half the squares on the board.

The cat sword promotes to a dragon horse (above).

• Step: The flying dragon can move one or two squares along one of the four diagonal directions. (B2)

Because it cannot move orthogonally, an unpromoted flying dragon can only reach half the squares on the board.

The flying dragon promotes to a dragon king (above).

• Range: The racing chariot can move any number of free squares along one of the four orthogonal directions.
• Step: It can step one square diagonally behind. (RbF)

Nothing promotes into a racing chariot, but it was included here due to the symmetry of its move with that of the square mover (right).

In several English sources the name of this piece is mistranslated as "side chariot".

• Range: The square mover can move any number of free squares along one of the four orthogonal directions.
• Step: It can step one square on either forward diagonal. (RfF)

• Limited range: The prancing stag can move one or two squares directly sideways.
• Step: It can step one square in one of the four diagonal directions, or directly forward. (rlR2FfW)

It cannot move directly backwards.

The prancing stag promotes to a square mover (above).

• Range: The golden bird can move any number of free squares directly forward or backward.
• 1st limited range: It can move one to three squares along any one of the four diagonals.
• 2nd limited range: It can move one or two squares directly sideways. (fbRB3rlR2)

• Range: The great dragon can move any number of free squares directly to the side.
• 1st limited range: It can move one to three squares along any one of the four diagonals.
• 2nd limited range: It can move one or two squares directly forward or backward. (rlRB3fbR2)

This is the description in English-language sources and also how Japanese Wikipedia describes the great dragon as a promoted kirin. However, Japanese Wikipedia describes the starting great dragon as moving as shown in tai shogi. Promoted pieces move the same as their unpromoted namesakes, so one of these is in error. The weight of the evidence - the English-language sources, half of Japanese Wikipedia descriptions, and symmetry with the golden bird - point to the description given here.

• Step: The phoenix can step one square in one of the four orthogonal directions.
• Jump: It can jump to the second square in one of the four diagonal directions. (WA)

The phoenix promotes to a golden bird (above).

• Step: The kirin can step one square in one of the four diagonal directions.
• Jump: It can jump to the second square in one of the four orthogonal directions. (FD)

Because of its unusual movement, an unpromoted kirin can only reach half the squares on the board.

The kirin promotes to a great dragon (above).

• Range: The bishop can move any number of free squares along any of the four diagonal directions. (B)

Because it cannot move orthogonally or promote, a bishop can only reach half the squares on the board.

• Range: The rook can move any number of free squares along any of the four orthogonal directions. (R)

• Range: The left chariot can move any number of free squares straight forward, or along the forward left or rear right diagonals. (fR[fl][br]BbW)
• Step: It can step one square directly backward.

• Range: The right chariot can move any number of free squares straight forward, or along the forward right or rear left diagonals.
• Step: It can step one square directly backward. (fR[fr][bl]BbW)

• Range: The white tiger can move any number of free squares directly forward or backward, or along the forward left diagonal.
• Limited range: It can step one or two squares directly sideways. (fbR[fl]BrlR2fF)
• Step: It can step one square diagonally forward to the right.

• Range: The blue dragon can move any number of free squares directly to either side, or along the forward right diagonal.
• Limited range: It can step one or two squares directly forward or backward. (rlR[fr]BfbR2fF)
• Step: It can step one square diagonally forward to the left.

• Range: The side mover can move any number of free squares directly sideways.
• Step: It can move one square directly forward or backward. (rlRW)

• Range: The vertical mover can move any number of free squares directly forward or backward.
• Step: It can move one square directly sideways. (fbRW)

• Range: The howling dog can move any number of free squares directly forward.
• Step: It can step one square directly backwards. (fRbW)

• Range: The reverse chariot can move any number of free squares directly forward or backward, giving it two directions of movement. (fbR)

• Limited range: The violent ox can move one or two squares in one of the four orthogonal directions. (R2)

• Range: The lance can move any number of free squares directly forward, giving it only one direction of movement. (fR)

A lance that reaches the far rank is trapped.

• Step: The angry boar can step one square in one of the four orthogonal directions. (W)

• Limited range: The violent bear can move one or two squares diagonally forward, or,
• Step: It can step one square orthogonally sideways. (fB2rlW)

• Step: The left general can move one square in any direction except directly left. It is called the left general because it guards the left side of the board. (FfrbW)

• Step: The right general can step one square in any direction except directly right. It is called the right general because it guards the right side of the board. (FflbW)

• Step: The gold general can step one square in the four orthogonal directions, or diagonally forward, giving it six directions of movement. (WfF)

It cannot move diagonally backward.

• Step: The leopard can step one square in the four diagonal directions, or directly forward or backward, giving it six directions of movement. (FfbW)

That is, it can move to any of the six adjacent squares ahead or behind it.

• Step: The silver general can move one square in the four diagonal directions, or directly forward, giving it five directions of movement. (FfW)

• Step: The evil wolf can step one square orthogonally sideways or forward, or diagonally forward. (frlK)

• Step: The copper general can move one square directly forward or backward, or one square diagonally forward, giving it four directions of movement. (fFfbW)

English-language sources

• Limited range: The savage tiger can move one or two squares orthogonally forward or backward
• Step: It can step one square diagonally forward. (fbR2fF)

Japanese Wikipedia

• Limited range: The savage tiger can move one or two squares orthogonally forward or backward, or diagonally forward. (fbR2fB2)

• Step: The iron general can move one square forward, either orthogonally or diagonally, giving it three directions of movement. (fK)

An iron general that reaches the far rank is trapped.

• Limited range: The wood general can move one or two squares along a forward diagonal. (fB2)

A wood general that reaches the far rank is trapped.

• Step: The stone general can step one square diagonally forward, giving it two possibilities. (fF)

A stone general that reaches the far rank is trapped.

• Step: A pawn can step one square directly forward. (fW)

A pawn that reaches the far rank is trapped.