How to Utilize Shogi resources on Internet

The Internet. The most resourceful thing in the world. You'll find everything there, free!

  • Discuss shogi
    The 81 Square Universe
    81 Universe square forum is one of the most active english shogi forum. If you have a question about shogi, join the forum and ask.
  • Make your computer Japanese character capable (Asian Character support)
    Windows Vista and 7 are already capable.
    Video insturctions for Windows XP is here (click "Videos and old articles" tab)
  • Get a little help on understanding meaning of that Japanese text
    FireFox and Rikaichan
    Rikaichan is the firefox extention which will popup the language of choice translation for particular word where mouse is.
    BabelFish
    This site translate the WEB page of different laungauge for you
  • Digital Shogi board that you can use to record, replay and evaluate your games.
    BCM Shogi
    This is a fairy new entry to the scene but appears to be already very robust. There are many options you can set to configure the look and feel of the program. it also comes with shogi engine called Spear so that you can evaluate your game.
  • Web shogi board that you can use with other people on the net
    Aja-ban (あじゃ盤)
  • Practice your shogi skills using on-line shogi program
    Ham-Shogi (ハム将棋）
  • How to replay Shogi game recorded in Kifu format on the Web
    Kifu for Java
    Kifu for Flash
    BCM Shogi referenced above will read Kifu format, (including Handycap games)
  • How to read Kifu notations, which is a standard way of recording Shogi games.
    Introduction to Kifu Notation
  • Research Shogi database for the book opening that you are interested.
    ShogiMaze
    This is very easy to navigate English frontend to shogi database (Original site is in Japanese) . If you are interested in a particular system and wants to know all the associated moves, visit this site and explore!
  • And finally, play shogi online
    If you would like to play at any of those places, I would recommend that you spend some time with Ham-shogi to practice your shogi skill
    81dojo
    This is the most user friendly shogi site for non-japanese players among the listing here. As with other sites, you need to register with your e-mail address and select your login name. All kinds of static data is available on players playing on 81dojo. (This is the only site you can check on your opponent's playing style and tendency before you actually start playing) There is a short tutorial on how to use the site. It also hosts 3x4 shogi board (aka animal/Dobutsu) shogi. Be aware this site's applet does allow illegal moves (double pawns etc.,) and immediately declare that you have lost. (Other sites simply will not allow illegal moves)
    PlayOK
    This site was used to be called "Kurnick". The site offers a variety of online board games and Shogi is one of them. The interface is somewhat limited but functional. Some nice interface on Tablet PC. Game environment is somewhat hostile. There is one nifty feature this site has. when the user switch the focus out of the board applet, the user name is grayed out. When one's user name "blinks" at every turn, it almost appears to be that he is switching out of the application to work with other program (maybe shogi software program for cheating?)
    Shogi dojo 24
    This is one of the oldest on board shogi site that was started by just one man. A few years ago, Japan Shogi Federation assumed the management of this site. The user base is huge and if you go in, you will not have any problem finding someone at your level to play the game 24/7. English introductory pages and English lexicon used in the application needs some polishing but you should be able to figure them out. User interface looks aged when you compare it to 81dojo though.  Note that the rating on this site is very much biased (to lower end).  Dont be surprised the R1,600 players (on PlayOK)  or R1,200 players (on 81dojo) could be playing in  less than R1,000 range on this site. 

This page last updated : 2012-04-08