Yonin shogi

[citation needed] The objective of the game is to capture all of the opponents’ kings as an individual or with the option of teaming up with one or two fellow players.

Note: some common sets feature a black board with white pieces.

The order of play may be decided by flipping four pawns and counting the number that land promoted-side up.

Once a king is in check, the threatened player immediately takes the next turn in defense and play continues clockwise from there.

If two or three kings are placed in check simultaneously, the first player in the clockwise direction to defend takes the next turn.

Because of the dead kings left as obstacles, it is possible for a player to be unable to make a legal move.

A bare king may remain on the board in opposition to the other players in an effort to increase its ranking.

[citation needed] This version of Yonin shogi was devised in 1993 by Ota Mitsuyasu, the former mayor of Hirata (present day Izumo) in Shimane Prefecture.

A fully complete and playable set of rules first appeared in a weekly children's magazine in February 1991.