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This page is written by the game's inventor, A. M. DeWitt. This game is a favorite of its inventor.

Dai Seireigi

Dai Seireigi (大精霊棋 dai seireigi, "great spirit's game") is a Shogi variant that is essentially a version of Dai Shogi that is playable with drops (or rather, an attempt to make one thereof). The game has the same pieces as Chu Seireigi, while also adding new pieces that pay homage to the really large Shogi variants (Tenjiku Shogi and up) with jumps to the third perimeter, range-jumping moves (sliding moves that can optionally jump up to three piece along the line of attack, but cannot capture a King by jumping) and hook moves (which can make a single 90-degree turn at an empty square and continue sliding in the new direction).

Play Dai Seireigi with others or against an AI via the Ludii Player

Play Dai Seireigi against others via Game Courier

Setup

An interactive diagram has been provided (The Javascript source code was written by H. G. Muller) to make it easier to understand how each piece moves. The Mnemonic pieces are enlarged versions of H. G. Muller's Mnemonic pieces. The Shogi pieces used in the diagram and the Pieces section are from Eric Silverman's 1kanji set, which were originally made for use in Stephen Tavener's Ai Ai. The Chess-like images are from Bob Greenwade's graphics set for the Seireigi games.

Only the location of the pieces of one side are mentioned below. The setup for the other side can be obtained by rotating the board 180 degrees. The promotion and XBetza notation of each piece has been included for easier reference.

Lines below can be clicked to see how the pieces move:

First Rank

  • 15o, 1o Lance (fR) -> Free Tiger (sRvWsN)
  • 14o, 2o Ram's-Head Soldier (fB) -> Treacherous Fox (vRsWvN)
  • 13o, 3o Flying Cat (fGfH) -> Great Dream-Eater (vRvpaf(paf)2kcRfBbCbZ)
  • 12o, 4o Roaring Dog (bFsWfsNfsCfsZ) -> Wizard Stork (KafyafKAD)
  • 11o Bishop General (Bpaf(paf)2kcB) -> Vice General (FafyafFpaf(paf)2kcBNAD)
  • 10o, 6o Strong Bear (FsfW) -> Whale (fBbRbFfWbsN)
  • 9o, 7o Gold General (WfF) -> Great Elephant (fBbFsfW)
  • 8o King (K)
  • 5o Rook General (Rpaf(paf)3kcR) -> Great General (Qpaf(paf)3kcQ)

Second Rank

  • 14n, 2n Knight (fN) -> Heavenly Horse (FfWbNfAfD)
  • 12n, 4n Running Rabbit (fBfR) -> Prancing Stag (fBsRvW)
  • 10n, 6n Thunder Runner (fCfZ) -> Free Demon (fBfpaf(paf)2kcBsRbsCbsZ)
  • 9n, 7n Silver General (FfW) -> Running Wolf (vRfFsW)
  • 8n Great Elephant (fBbFsfW) -> Teaching King (fBvRbFsW)

Third Rank

  • 15m, 1m Flying Swallow (fAfD) -> Golden Bird (fFvWfhNbAsbD)
  • 13m, 3m Stone General (fF) -> Flying Falcon (WfFvD)
  • 11m, 5m Iron General (fFfW) -> Cloud Eagle (FvWfA)
  • 10m Kirin (FD) -> Bishop (B)
  • 9m, 7m Copper General (fFvW) -> Great Leopard (sRfFbW)
  • 8m Lion Hawk (FafyafFNAD)
  • 6m Phoenix (WA) -> Rook (R)

Fourth Rank

  • 14l Flying Falcon (WfFvD) -> Ancient Dragon (fBfasBbFbG)
  • 12l Great Leopard (sRfFbW) -> Flying Ox (BvR)
  • 10l Bishop (B) -> Dragon Horse (BW)
  • 91 Capricorn (BasB)
  • 8l Queen (Q)
  • 7l Hook Mover (RasR)
  • 6l Rook (R) -> Dragon King (RF)
  • 4l Running Wolf (vRfFsW) -> Free Boar (BsR)
  • 2l Cloud Eagle (FvWfA) -> Square Mover (fRfasRsbWsbH)

Fifth Rank

  • 15k-1k Pawn (fW) -> Tokin (WfF)

Pieces

The following table shows the moves of the pieces (XBetza notation is included for easier reference) and the picture below shows the piece promotions (Pieces promote to the piece on the square directly above them, if present).

Piece Promoted Piece



King
王将/玉将
ōshō/gyokushō

The King moves one space in any direction, but not into check. (K)

The King does not promote.



Hook Mover
鉤行
kōgyō

The Hook Mover can slide orthogonally, and optionally make a single 90-degree turn at an empty square mid-slide. (RasR)

The Hook Mover does not promote.



Capricorn
摩羯
makatsu

The Capricorn can slide diagonally, and optionally make a single 90-degree turn at an empty square mid-slide. (BasB)

The Capricorn does not promote.



Queen
奔王
honnō

The Queen moves as it does in Chess - it slides orthogonally or diagonally. (Q)

The Queen does not promote.



Lion Hawk
獅鷹
shiō

The Lion Hawk can slide diagonally or jump anywhere within a distance of exactly two squares. (FafyafFNAD)

The Lion Hawk does not promote.



Rook General
飛将
hishō

The Rook General can slide orthogonally, and optionally jump up to three pieces along the line of attack when capturing, except this cannot capture a King by jumping. (Rpaf(paf)2kcR)




Great General
大将
taishō

The Great General can slide orthogonally or diagonally, and optionally jump up to three pieces along the line of attack when capturing, except this cannot capture a King by jumping. (Qpaf(paf)2kcQ)




Bishop General
角将
kakushō

The Bishop General can slide orthogonally or diagonally, and optionally jump up to three pieces along the line of attack when capturing, except this cannot capture a King by jumping. (Bpaf(paf)2kcB)




Vice General
副将
fukushō

The Vice General can slide orthogonally or diagonally, and optionally jump up to three pieces along the line of attack when capturing, except this cannot capture a King by jumping. In addition, it can jump anywhere within a distance of exactly two squares. (FafyafFpaf(paf)2kcBNAD)




Rook
飛車
hisha

The Rook moves as it does in Chess - it slides orthogonally. (R)




Dragon King
龍王
ryūō

The Dragon King moves as it does in Shogi - it can move as a Rook or as a King. (RF)




Bishop
角行
kakugyō

The Bishop moves as it does in Chess - it slides diagonally. (B)




Dragon Horse
龍馬
ryūma

The Dragon Horse moves as it does in Shogi - it can move as a Bishop or as a King. (BW)




Phoenix
鳳凰
hōō

The Phoenix jumps to the second square in any diagonal direction, or moves one square in any orthogonal direction. (WA)




Rook
飛車
hisha

The Rook moves as it does in Chess - it slides orthogonally. (R)




Kirin
麒麟
kirin

The Kirin jumps to the second square in any orthogonal direction, or moves one square in any diagonal direction. (FD)




Bishop
角行
kakugyō

The Bishop moves as it does in Chess - it slides diagonally. (B)




Great Elephant
大象
taizō

The Great Elephant slides diagonally forward. In addition, it can move one square diagonally backward, sideways, or directly forward. (fBbFsfW)




Teaching King
教王
kyōō

The Teaching King slides vertically or forward. In addition, it can move one square sideways or diagonally backward. (fBvRbFsW)




Running Wolf
走狼
sōrō

The Running Wolf slides vertically. In addition, it can move one square sideways or diagonally forward. (vRfFsW)




Free Boar
奔猪
honcho

The Free Boar slides sideways or diagonally. (BsR)




Great Leopard
大豹
daihyō

The Great Leopard slides orthogonally sideways. In addition, it can move one square diagonally forward, or directly backward. (sRfFbW)




Flying Ox
飛牛
higyū

The Flying Ox slides vertically or diagonally. (BvR)




Cloud Eagle
雲鷲
unjū

The Cloud Eagle moves one square diagonally or vertically, or jumps two squares along the forward diagonals. (FvWfA)




Square Mover
方行
hōgyo

The Square Mover can slide orthogonally forward, and optionally make a single 90-degree turn at an empty square mid-slide. In addition, it can move one square, or jump three squares, orthogonally sideways or backward. (fRfasRsbWsbH)




Flying Falcon
飛鷹
hiyō

The Flying Falcon moves one square orthogonally or forward, or jump two squares along the vertical orthogonals. (WfFvD)




Ancient Dragon
元龍
genryū/i>

The Ancient Dragon can slide diagonally forward, and optionally make a single 90-degree turn at an empty square mid-slide. In addition, it can move one square, or jump three squares, diagonally backward. (fBfasBbFbG)




Roaring Dog
吼犬
kōken

The Roaring Dog steps one square sideways or diagonally backward, jump one square sideways and then one square diagonally forward, or jumps three squares straight sideways and then one or two squares straight forward. (bFsWfsNfsCfsZ)




Wizard Stork
仙鶴
senkaku

The Wizard Stork can slide, or jump two squares, in any orthogonal or diagonal direction. (KafyafKAD)




Strong Bear
強熊
kyōyū

The Strong Bear moves one square diagonally, sideways, or forward. (FsfW)




Whale
鯨鯢
keigei

The Whale can slide diagonally forward or directly backward, move one square diagonally backward or directly forward, or jump one square sideways and then one square diagonally backward. (fBbRbFfWbsN)




Gold General
金将
kinshō

The Gold General moves as it does in Shogi - it moves one square orthogonally, or diagonally forward. (WfF)




Great Elephant
大象
taizō

The Great Elephant slides diagonally forward. In addition, it can move one square diagonally backward, sideways, or directly forward. (fBbFsfW)




Silver General
銀将
ginshō

The Silver General moves as it does in Shogi - it moves one square diagonally, or directly forward. (FfW)




Running Wolf
走狼
sōrō

The Running Wolf slides vertically. In addition, it can move one square sideways or diagonally forward. (vRfFsW)




Copper General
銅将
dōshō

The Copper General moves as it does in Chu Shogi - it moves one square vertically, or diagonally forward. (fFvW)




Great Leopard
大豹
daihyō

The Great Leopard slides orthogonally sideways. In addition, it can move one square diagonally forward, or directly backward. (sRfFbW)




Thunder Runner
雷走
raisō

The Thunder Runner jumps three squares straight forward and then one or two squares straight sideways. (fCfZ)




Free Demon
奔鬼
honki

The Free Demon can slide diagonally forward, and optionally jump up to three pieces along the line of attack when capturing, except this cannot capture a King by jumping. In addition, it can slide normally orthogonally sideways, or jump three squares straight sideways and then one or two squares straight backward. (fBfpaf(paf)2kcBsRbsCbsZ)




Flying Cat
飛猫
hibyō

The Flying Cat jumps three squares along any forward direction. (fGfH)




Great Dream-Eater
大獏
daibaku

The Great Dream-Eater can slide vertically, and optionally jump up to three pieces along the line of attack when capturing, except this cannot capture a King by jumping. In addition, it can slide normally diagonally forward, or jump three squares straight backward and then one or two squares straight sideways. (vRvpaf(paf)2kcRfBbCbZ)




Flying Swallow
飛燕
hien

The Flying Swallow jumps to the second square in any forward direction. (fAfD)




Golden Bird
金翅
kinshi

The Golden Bird can step one square in any vertical or forward direction, jump two squares along any sideways or backward direction, or jump one square diagonally forward and then one square orthogonally outward. (fFvWfhNbAsbD)




Knight
桂馬
keima

The Knight moves as it does in Shogi - it jumps one square forward and then one square diagonally outward. (fN)




Heavenly Horse
天馬
temma

The Heavenly Horse can step one square in any diagonal or forward direction, jump two squares along any forward direction, or jump one square backward and then one square diagonally outward. (FfWbNfAfD)




Iron General
鉄将
tetsushō

The Iron General moves as it does in Dai Shogi - one square in any forward direction. (fFfW)




Cloud Eagle
雲鷲
unjū

The Cloud Eagle moves one square diagonally or vertically, or jumps two squares along the forward diagonals. (FvWfA)




Stone General
石将
seikishō

The Stone General moves as it does in Dai Shogi - one square diagonally forward. (fF)




Flying Falcon
飛鷹
hiyō

The Flying Falcon moves one square orthogonally or forward, or jumps two squares along the vertical orthogonals. (WfFvD)




Running Rabbit
走兎
sōto

The Running Rabbit slides in any forward direction. (fBfR)




Prancing Stag
踊鹿
yōroku

The Prancing Stag slides sideways or diagonally forward, or step one square vertically. (fBsRvW)




Ram's-Head Soldier
羊兵
yōhei

The Ram's-Head Soldier slides diagonally forward. (fB)




Treacherous Fox
隠狐
inko

The Treacherous Fox can slide vertically, step one square sideways, or jump one square vertically and then one square diagonally outward. (vRsWvN)




Lance
香車
kyōsha

The Lance moves as it does in Shogi - it slides directly forward. (fR)




Free Tiger
奔虎
honko

The Free Tiger can slide sideways, step one square vertically, or jump one square sideways and then one square diagonally outward. (sRvWsN)




Pawn
歩兵
fuhyō

The Pawn moves as it does in Shogi - one square orthogonally forward. (fW)




Tokin
と金
tokin

The Tokin moves as it does in Shogi - as a Gold General. (WfF)

Rules

All rules, unless stated otherwise, are identical to those of standard Shogi.

Board Style

The board may be either a traditional uncheckered Shogi board, or a checkered board with a dark square at each player's left-hand corner.

Promotion Zone

The promotion zone is the farthest five ranks of the board.

Promotion and Drop Restrictions

These rules are the same as in standard Shogi. However, the ones that do not specifically apply to Pawns apply to a different set of pieces, specifically to the Pawn, Lance, Ram's-Head Soldier, Running Rabbit, Stone General, and Iron General on the last rank, to the Knight and Flying Swallow on the last two ranks, and to the Flying Cat and Thunder Runner on the last three ranks.

Impasse

This rule is the same as in standard Shogi, except that the minimum number of points needed to not lose is 103. Each Hook Mover, Capricorn, Rook General, or Bishop General, promoted or not, scores 10 points for the owning player, each Queen, Lion Hawk, Rook, Bishop, Phoenix, or Kirin, promoted or not, scores 5 points for the owning player, and all other pieces except Kings score 1 point each.

Notes

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This 'user submitted' page is a collaboration between the posting user and the Chess Variant Pages. Registered contributors to the Chess Variant Pages have the ability to post their own works, subject to review and editing by the Chess Variant Pages Editorial Staff.


By A. M. DeWitt.

Last revised by A. M. DeWitt.


Web page created: 2024-01-01. Web page last updated: 2024-01-01