How is it different from full shogi?

The board is 5 by 5, with 6 pieces each, and promotion happens only on the last row.

Can I drop a pawn to give checkmate?

Yes. This version allows it, though the traditional rules do not.

It looks two moves ahead on material, so it will take free pieces and avoid simple traps.

Minishogi, Japanese chess on a 5 by 5 board with drops and promotions, against the computer. Checkmate the king to win.

Shogi Mini

0% · Getting ready

A real run of the game, recorded with captions and no sound.

Each side has a king, gold, silver, bishop, rook and pawn on a 5 by 5 board. Your blue pieces start at the bottom and move up; you go first.
Tap a piece, then a highlighted square. Captured pieces go to your hand: tap one in your hand and then an empty square to drop it back as your own.
A piece reaching the last row may promote (a pawn must). A promoted silver or pawn moves like a gold, and a promoted bishop or rook also gets king steps.
You cannot drop a pawn on the last row or on a file where you already have a pawn. Checkmate the computer's king to win.

Controls: mouse or touch. Made by CalcoTools.

Because captured pieces come back as drops, trade carefully: every capture hands your opponent a new piece.
Keep your king guarded by gold and silver pieces next to it.
The rook and bishop are the strongest pieces; promote them when you safely can.
Look at drops as attacks: a dropped piece can give check from anywhere.

How is it different from full shogi?: The board is 5 by 5, with 6 pieces each, and promotion happens only on the last row.
Can I drop a pawn to give checkmate?: Yes. This version allows it, though the traditional rules do not.
How does the computer play?: It looks two moves ahead on material, so it will take free pieces and avoid simple traps.