Hexshogi is a shogi variant for two players created by George R. Dekle Sr. in 1986.^[1][2] The gameboard comprises 85 hexagonal cells. The game is in all respects the same as shogi, except that piece moves have been transfigured for the hexagonal board-cell geometry.

Hexshogi was included in World Game Review No. 10 edited by Michael Keller.^[3]

Hexshogi has the same types and numbers of pieces as shogi, and all normal shogi rules apply, including a similar initial setup (see diagram), drops, promotion, check, checkmate, and impasse. As in shogi, pieces capture the same as they move. But the hexagonal geometry implies special move patterns for the pieces.

The diagrams show how the unpromoted pieces move. As in shogi, a dragon king (promoted rook) moves as a rook, or as a king. A dragon horse (promoted bishop) moves as a bishop or a king.

The rook (4d) moves in six directions along vertical or oblique files (in the diagram, to any green-colored cell).^[a] The king (7h) moves one step in any direction (red dots).^[a] The gold general (7c, blue dots) moves one step like a rook, or one step diagonally forward. The silver general (3f, blue dots) moves one step in any direction diagonally, or one step straight forward.

The bishop (4d) moves in six directions along board diagonals (green-colored cells). It is restricted to one third of the board before promotion.^[a] The lance (9i) moves straight forward only (blue-colored cells). As in shogi, knights leap any intervening men and have two possible forward moves (7e, blue dots).^[a] A pawn (4h) always moves one cell straight forward (blue dot).

• Gliński's hexagonal chess
• Also by George Dekle:
  • Trishogi – a variant with triangular cells
  • Masonic Shogi
  • Space Shogi – a 3D variant

Bibliography

• Pritchard, D. B. (1994). The Encyclopedia of Chess Variants. Games & Puzzles Publications. ISBN 0-9524142-0-1.
• Pritchard, D. B. (2007). Beasley, John (ed.). The Classified Encyclopedia of Chess Variants. John Beasley. ISBN 978-0-9555168-0-1.

• Hex Shogi variants by Fergus Duniho, The Chess Variant Pages

v t e Shogi variants
Standard shōgi (9×9, drops)
Small variants	Dōbutsu shōgi (3×4, for children) Micro shōgi (4×5) Minishōgi (5×5) Kyoto shōgi (5×5) Goro goro shōgi (5×6) Janken shōgi (6×6; ja, zh) Judkins shōgi (6×6) Whale shōgi (6×6) Tori shōgi (7×7) Yari shōgi (7×9) EuroShogi (8×8) Heian shōgi (8×8 or 9×8, 12th c.)
Standard-size variants	Sho shōgi (9×9, 16th c.) Hasami shōgi (9×9, 9 or 18 pc.) Tobi shōgi (9×9; zh) Annan shōgi (9×9, neighbors influence movement) Masonic shōgi (9×9, staggered ranks) Hexshōgi (85 hex cells) Kawanakajima shōgi (ja) Trishōgi (9×10, triangular cells)
Large variants	Kyō shōgi (10×10; ja) Okisaki shōgi (10×10) Great whale shōgi (11×11) Oni shōgi (11×11; zh) Wa shōgi (11×11) Chu shōgi (12×12) Heian dai shōgi (13×13) Dai shōgi (15×15) Tenjiku shōgi (16×16) Dai-dai shōgi (17×17) Maka-dai-dai shōgi (19×19) Hishigata shōgi (19×19) Kō shōgi (19×19) Tai shōgi (25×25) Taikyoku shōgi (36×36)
Multiplayer variants	Sannin shōgi (hex board, 7 cells per side, 3-player game) Yonin shōgi (9×9, 4-player game)
3D variants	Space shōgi (9×9×9 variant)
Miscellaneous variants	Gunjin Shōgi (various sizes)