Rules for YariShogi (Copyright (c) Christiaan Freeling)

YariShogi is a Shogi variant invented by Christiaan Freeling. It is played on a 9x7 board, with the last three ranks as the promotion zone. YariShogi uses the same rules as shogi, except for the pieces which are used and a few differences noted below.

These are the differences between Shogi and YariShogi:

1. YariShogi is played on a 9x7 board, with the last three ranks being the promotion zone. This is the opening setup:

   
          7    6    5    4    3    2    1  
       +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+    White (White)
     a |\ R/|\ N/|\ N/|\ K/|\ B/|\ B/|\ R/| a 
       +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+    
     b |    |    |    |    |    |    |    | b 
       +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
     c |\ P/|\ P/|\ P/|\ P/|\ P/|\ P/|\ P/| c 
       +----+----+----*----*----+----+----+
     d |    |    |    |    |    |    |    | d 
       +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
     e |    |    |    |    |    |    |    | e 
       +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
     f |    |    |    |    |    |    |    | f 
       +----+----+----*----*----+----+----+
     g |/ P\|/ P\|/ P\|/ P\|/ P\|/ P\|/ P\| g 
       +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
     h |    |    |    |    |    |    |    | h 
       +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+    
     i |/ R\|/ B\|/ B\|/ K\|/ N\|/ N\|/ R\| i 
       +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+    Black (Black)
          7    6    5    4    3    2    1  

2. Unlike Shogi, Pawns in YariShogi are allowed to give checkmate when dropped.

YariShogi Pieces

• An 'x' indicates a square which the piece may move or jump to.
• A line indicates the piece may move any number of squares in that direction.
• A number indicates the piece may move in that direction up to that number of squares, but not jumping.

  x | x                                x x x
    B       Yari Bishop                x+B x     Yari Gold
             promotes to Yari Gold       |        promoted Yari Bishop

  x   x                                        
    |                                  x x x
    N       Yari Knight                x+N x     Yari Gold
             promotes to Yari Gold       |        promoted Yari Knight

    |                                    |
 -- R --    Forward Rook              --+R --    Rook
             promotes to Rook            |        promoted Forward Rook

    x                                  x x x
    P       Pawn                        +P       Yari Silver
             promotes to Yari Silver     |        promoted Pawn

  x x x
  x K x     King (or General)                    (none)
  x x x