Before you can play shogi, you need to know how to set up the board correctly. Unlike many board games, shogi’s initial position is specific and consistent — every piece has a designated starting square. In this guide, you will learn the exact starting position of every piece, how to orient the board, and the key conventions that shogi players follow when setting up a game.
What You Need
To play shogi, you need:
- A shogi board (shogi-ban) — a 9×9 grid, usually with coordinate labels along the edges
- Two sets of pieces (koma) — 20 pieces per player, 40 total
- A flat surface where both players can sit facing each other
If you are playing online or using a shogi app, the setup is done automatically. But understanding the starting position is fundamental to your knowledge of the game.
Board Orientation
The shogi board is a 9×9 grid. Columns are numbered 9 to 1 from right to left (from the perspective of the player sitting at the south end of the board). Rows are numbered 1 to 9 from top to bottom (from the same perspective). So the top-right square from the first player’s viewpoint is column 9, row 1, written as 9一 or 9-1.
Each player’s “home” territory consists of the three rows closest to them (rows 7, 8, and 9 for the first player). Pieces that enter the opponent’s territory (rows 1–3 from the first player’s perspective) become eligible to promote.
The Starting Position — Piece by Piece
Here is the complete starting setup. All 40 pieces are placed on the board before the game begins. Each player’s pieces are oriented to point toward the opponent.
Back Rank (Row 9 for Player 1)
From right to left: Lance, Knight, Silver General, Gold General, King (/), Gold General, Silver General, Knight, Lance.
This gives the back rank a symmetric structure, with the King protected in the center and matching pairs on both sides.
Middle Row (Row 8 for Player 1)
Only two pieces are placed in this row: a Bishop on column 8 (second from the right) and a Rook on column 2 (second from the left). These two powerful pieces occupy opposite sides of the board, creating an asymmetric dynamic from the very first move.
Pawn Row (Row 7 for Player 1)
All nine Pawns are lined up one per column across row 7. This creates a defensive barrier in front of your pieces and provides the raw material for early pawn attacks.
Opponent’s Setup
The second player’s pieces mirror the first player’s position exactly. Row 1 is the opponent’s back rank (Lance, Knight, Silver, Gold, King, Gold, Silver, Knight, Lance), row 2 has the opponent’s Rook on file 8 and Bishop on file 2 (mirror of the first player), and row 3 has all nine of the opponent’s Pawns.
Key Piece Count
Before starting a game, many experienced players count their pieces to verify the setup is correct:
- 9 Pawns per player
- 2 Lances per player
- 2 Knights per player
- 2 Silver Generals per player
- 2 Gold Generals per player
- 1 Bishop per player
- 1 Rook per player
- 1 King per player
That is 20 pieces per player, 40 total on the board at the start of the game.
Which King Goes Where?
In standard shogi sets, one King piece is marked (gyokusho) and the other is marked (osho). By tradition, the challenger or lower-ranked player uses the and the higher-ranked or host player uses the. In casual play between friends, the distinction does not matter — simply place one king on each side.
First Move Convention
In shogi, the player who moves first is often determined by a simple randomization ritual called furigoma. One player takes five pawns and tosses them into the air. If more pawns land with the promoted side (と金, “to-kin”) face up, that player goes second. If more land with the unpromoted side up, they go first. In online play, this is handled automatically.
盤面を確認 — Interactive Initial Position
下のインタラクティブ盤で初期配置を確認できます。先手の手番から自由に駒を動かして配置に慣れましょう。
