Masonic shogi

Masonic Shogi gameboard and starting position

Masonic shogi is a shogi variant invented by George R. Dekle Sr. in 1987.[1][2] The game is played on a modified shogi board whereby alternating ranks are indented to the right—resembling masonry brickwork. The moves of pieces are adapted to the new geometry; in other respects the game is the same as shogi.

Masonic shogi was included in World Game Review No. 10 edited by Michael Keller.[3]

## Board characteristics

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Indentation of alternating ranks results in cants (oblique files) approximately 30 degrees from the vertical and diagonals approximately 30 degrees from the horizontal, the same as hexagon-based chessboards when cell vertices face the players. (For example, rooks have six directions of movement. Masonic bishops, however, are limited to the four diagonal directions to the sides.)

## Game rules

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All normal shogi rules apply, including initial setup (see diagram), drops, promotion, and so on. The pieces, however, have specially defined moves.

### Piece moves

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The diagrams show how the unpromoted pieces move. As in shogi, a dragon king (promoted rook) moves as a rook or as a king. A dragon horse (promoted bishop) moves as a bishop or a king.

The rook (4d) moves along a rank (two directions) or cants (four directions) to any green-colored cell in the diagram.[a] The king (7f) moves one step in any direction (red-colored dots). The gold general (7c) moves one step like a rook in any direction, or one step diagonally forward (blue dots). The silver general (3g) moves one step diagonally in any direction, or one step forward on a cant (blue dots).

The bishop (4d) moves in four directions along board diagonals (to any green-colored cell). It is restricted to one third of the board before promotion. The lance (9i) moves forward only, in alternating cant directions (any blue-colored cell). The knight (4h) has four move options (blue dots) and moves in the pattern: one step forward on a cant, then one step forward diagonally. As in shogi, the knight leaps any intervening men. The pawn (7g) moves forward in the same pattern as the lance (red dots), but one step at a time.

## See also

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* De Vasa's hexagonal chess
* Also by George Dekle:
* Masonic Chess
* Hexshogi – a variant with hexagonal cells
* Trishogi – a variant with triangular cells
* Space Shogi – a 3D variant

## Notes

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1. ^ The Masonic rook has the same movement as the rook in Gliński's hexagonal chess (Pritchard 2007:260).

## References

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1. ^ Pritchard (1994), p. 191
2. ^ Pritchard (2007), p. 260
3. ^ Keller, Michael, ed. (June 1991). "A Panorama of Chess Variants". World Game Review. No. 10\. Michael Keller. ISSN 1041-0546.

Bibliography

* Pritchard, D. B. (1994). The Encyclopedia of Chess Variants. Games & Puzzles Publications. ISBN 0-9524142-0-1.
* Pritchard, D. B. (2007). Beasley, John (ed.). The Classified Encyclopedia of Chess Variants. John Beasley. ISBN 978-0-9555168-0-1.

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Shogi variants

Standard shōgi (9×9, drops)

Small variants|

* Dōbutsu shōgi (3×4, for children)
* Micro shōgi (4×5)
* Minishōgi (5×5)
* Kyoto shōgi (5×5)
* Goro goro shōgi (5×6)
* Janken shōgi (6×6; ja, zh)
* Judkins shōgi (6×6)
* Whale shōgi (6×6)
* Tori shōgi (7×7)
* Yari shōgi (7×9)
* EuroShogi (8×8)
* Heian shōgi (8×8 or 9×8, 12th c.)

Standard-size variants|

* Sho shōgi (9×9, 16th c.)
* Hasami shōgi (9×9, 9 or 18 pc.)
* Tobi shōgi (9×9; zh)
* Annan shōgi (9×9, neighbors influence movement)
* Masonic shōgi (9×9, staggered ranks)
* Hexshōgi (85 hex cells)
* Kawanakajima shōgi (ja)
* Trishōgi (9×10, triangular cells)

Large variants|

* Kyō shōgi (10×10; ja)
* Okisaki shōgi (10×10)
* Great whale shōgi (11×11)
* Oni shōgi (11×11; zh)
* Wa shōgi (11×11)
* Chu shōgi (12×12)
* Heian dai shōgi (13×13)
* Dai shōgi (15×15)
* Tenjiku shōgi (16×16)
* Dai-dai shōgi (17×17)
* Maka-dai-dai shōgi (19×19)
* Hishigata shōgi (19×19)
* Kō shōgi (19×19)
* Tai shōgi (25×25)
* Taikyoku shōgi (36×36)

Multiplayer variants|

* Sannin shōgi (hex board, 7 cells per side, 3-player game)
* Yonin shōgi (9×9, 4-player game)

3D variants|

* Space shōgi (9×9×9 variant)

Miscellaneous variants|

* Gunjin Shōgi (various sizes)

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