Japanese Chess. Trevor Leggett

These diagonal moves are very handy for threading his way in between the Pawns. The Silver is partly defensive, but also partly attacking. Generally one Silver stays at home (with his two Gold colleagues) to protect the King, but the other Silver goes out and tries to penetrate into the enemy lines, in co-operation with the Rook, Bishop, and maybe a Knight (which comes into action last of all). Whereas the Gold is a heavy-weight, the Silver is of lighter metal, alternately attacking and retreating to break up the opponent’s formation with feints and threats.

      Several openings are named after Silver, depending on how the attacking Silver is used. There is no opening named after the Gold, and this gives you the hint that the Golds usually stay at home.

      IV. The Rook

       The Shogi Rook corresponds exactly to the Rook in our chess; so we have simply put the Japanese character inside our own castle.