Japanese Chess - Shogi

Japanese form of Chess, the history of which is also obscure (nebulous). Traditionally it is thought to have originated in India and to have been transmitted to Japan via China and Korea. Shogi like traditional Chess is played on a squared board with pieces of varying powers, and the object is checkmate (++CM) of the opposisng King. It is played on a square board of 9 x 9 or, 81 cells with pieces of differing powers. Two distinctive features, however, differentiate Shogi from European Chess: 01 Captured pieces are not dead but may be pointed in the opposite direction and replayed as part of your own or your opponent’s forces. 02 The minor pieces (JPs - Japanese Pawns) capture one cell straight ahead. Both players have twenty pieces each at the beginning of the game (ISP). Each player has 20 pieces, which oppose each other on a board composed of 9 horizontal and 9 vertical rows. There are 9 minor pieces (Fu), a RO (Hisha), a BS (Kaku), one King (Osho), 2 Gold Generals (JGs, Kinsho), 2 Silver Generals JSs (Ginsho), 2 JKs (Keima), and 2 Lance (Kyosha, JL).