From moves to plans
Once you know how the pieces move, practise checking both kings, attacked pieces and pieces in hand. These ideas offer a starting point; useful plans depend on the position and your opponent’s replies.
Check safety before moving
Is your king safe? What was the moving piece defending? What can your opponent threaten next? Start by avoiding losses of pieces without compensation, then learn to assess exchanges.
Coordinate your king’s defenders
A castle arranges defenders, often Gold Generals and Silver Generals, around the king. Mino and Yagura suit different openings; neither protects against every attack. Learn how the defenders support one another and adjust to the direction of attack. Deal with immediate threats before continuing a planned setup.
Support an advancing piece
Bōgin, or Climbing Silver, is one approach that advances a Silver General with Rook support. Check pawn exchanges, the Silver General’s retreat squares and your king’s safety before advancing. Follow your opponent’s replies rather than treating an opening sequence as a fixed recipe.
Use drops in attack and defence
A legal drop can reinforce your king, block a long-range attack or create a threat. Consider whether the dropped piece can be captured and whether the resulting exchange helps you. Pawns can be useful blockers or attacking supports, subject to restrictions such as nifu and pawn-drop mate.
Read checks and replies
Look at checks, captures and direct threats, then examine all legal replies. A supported Gold General directly in front of the opposing king is a useful pattern called head Gold (atama-kin); whether it is mate depends on escape squares and defenders. Giving check is not always best, and defending your own king may be urgent.
Practise and review
Use the Easy AI to learn the controls, then review moves where you lost a piece or missed a threat. Mating problems help develop calculation; full games also require defence. Resignation is a way to acknowledge defeat, and learners may also play through to mate. Respect your opponent and avoid deliberate delays.