Tesuji · 歩の手筋
The pawn is the cheapest piece and the one with the most techniques. Seven of them cover most of what a pawn in hand is for.
Japanese teaching puts the pawn techniques first, before anything about the major pieces, because a player who has three pawns in hand and knows these seven has an attack in any position. Every one of them costs a pawn and gains a move, a square, or a piece. The names are worth learning in Japanese; they are how the moves are talked about everywhere.
What. A pawn dropped one square short of the promotion zone’s last rank, so that next move it becomes a tokin.
Why. A tokin is a gold that cost a pawn. The defender has to spend a move on the threat, and whatever they spend it on, the pawn has already earned its keep.
When. Whenever a file into the enemy camp is open and the square in front of the pawn is not guarded by a pawn. Behind a rook it is nearly always right.
What. After exchanging pawns on a file, you drop a second pawn on the square yours just left, offering it to the pawn that captured.
Why. If they take, their pawn has been pulled forward and the square behind it is yours for a hanging pawn or a piece. If they do not, you take theirs and the file is open.
When. With two pawns in hand and the rook behind the file. The joining pawn and the hanging pawn are played together so often that the proverb names them as a pair.
What. A pawn dropped on the square where two enemy pieces’ lines cross, so that whichever one takes it leaves the other line broken.
Why. Two pieces guarding each other through one square are strong until something lands on that square. A pawn is the cheapest thing you can land.
When. Look for a rook’s rank and a bishop’s diagonal that meet on an empty square, or two generals that both reach the same point. The tap costs a pawn and one of them must move.
What. A pawn dropped directly in front of an enemy piece, forcing it to take, move, or be captured.
Why. Generals and knights have to answer a pawn on their head. Whatever they do, they have left the square they were guarding, and the tempo was bought for a pawn.
When. Against a gold or silver that is the last defender of a square you want. Tap it, and the square is yours next move.
What. A defensive drop: a pawn on your back rank directly behind a gold on the rank above.
Why. An enemy rook on your back rank cannot pass the pawn and cannot take it without being recaptured by the gold. The proverb says it is harder than rock, and it is.
When. The moment a rook or dragon reaches your back rank with your gold one square in front of it. It is often the only move that holds.
What. Pushing a pawn into contact knowing it will be taken, and not recapturing at once.
Why. The captured pawn opens a file or a diagonal, gives the enemy pawn a square it did not want, and puts a pawn into your hand if you take back later. Attacks in shogi usually begin with two or three of these on neighbouring files.
When. Before a rook or bishop attack, on the files the attack will use. The order matters: push where the recapture is most awkward first.
What. A pawn dropped directly in front of an enemy pawn, offering the exchange.
Why. If they take, you recapture and their file has a hole; if they do not, you take and your pawn has advanced a rank for nothing. It is the quiet way to open a file when a push would be captured for free.
When. When a file you want is blocked by their pawn and a push of your own would just lose a pawn.
The app’s review marks the moment a game turned and says what was better. Often the better move is one of these.