Shogi, like western chess, can be divided into the opening, middle game and endgame, each requiring a different strategy. The opening consists of arranging one's defenses and positioning for attack, the middle game consists of attempting to break through the opposing defenses while maintaining one's own, and the endgame starts when one side's defenses have been compromised.
A shogi opening is the sequence of initial moves of a shogi game before the middle game. The more general Japanese term for the beginning of the game is 序盤 joban.
In shogi, Double Wing Attack or simply Wing Attack or Centre Game is a Double Static Rook opening in which both sides play Static Rook by directly advancing their rook pawns forward on the second and eighth files toward their opponent's bishop with the first several moves on each side being identical or very similar.
In shogi, castles are strong defensive configurations of pieces that protect the king (玉).
Static Rook openings in shogi typically have the player's rook at its start position, which is the second file for Black and the eighth file for White.
Left Silver-57 Rapid Attack or Left Silver-5g Rapid Attack or Left Silver-5g Quick Attack is a fast attacking strategy in shogi used with several different Static Rook openings often played by Black against Ranging Rook positions played by White. It is characterized by moving the left silver from its start position on 79 to the 57 square.
The Three Pawns handicap in shogi is used to teach novice players the vulnerability of bishops and the threat of dropped pawns.
The 8-Piece handicap in shogi has both of White's major pieces, the rook and the bishop, removed as well as their lances, knights, and silvers. White only has the line of pawns and two gold plus their king.
In shogi, Central Rook is a subclass of Ranging Rook openings in which the rook is positioned on the fifth (central) file.
In shogi, Retreating Rook is a variant of the Double Wing Attack opening and joseki in which Black's rook retreats all the way back to their camp after a pawn exchange in the eighth file allowing White to also exchange rook pawns.
In shogi, Floating Rook is a variation of the Double Wing Attack opening in which Black's rook falls back to rank 6 (R-26) aiming to protect this rank and prevent White from exchanging pawns on the eighth file to get a pawn in hand.
In shogi, the Ureshino opening is a newer aggressive Static Rook opening characterized by moving the right silver to the sixth file and then pulling back the bishop to the silver's start position.
In shogi, Side Pawn Capture is a Double Static Rook opening.
The Anaguma or Bear In The Hole is a castle used in shogi. It is commonly used in professional shogi.
The Mino castle is a castle used in shogi.
In shogi, Bishop Exchange is a Double Static Rook opening in which each player's bishop is captured relatively early so that they keep their bishops in hand.
In shogi, Bishop Exchange Reclining Silver or Reclining Silver With Bishops Off or Bishop Exchange Sitting Silver is a Bishop Exchange opening that uses a Reclining Silver attacking formation.
The 4-Piece handicap in shogi has both of White's major pieces, the rook (飛) and the bishop (角), removed as well as their lances (香). Thus, White is left with pawns, golds, silvers, and knights.
Bishop Exchange Wrong Diagonal Bishop is a variation of the Bishop Exchange opening that has an early bishop drop on the 45 square.
The 10-Piece handicap in shogi has all of White's pieces removed except for the king and their line of pawns.
