Computer Shogi - Computer Shogi Programs

Computer Shogi Programs

Components of computer shogi programs:

  • Opening book : An opening book of moves puts the program in a good position and saves time. The problem is professionals do not always follow an opening sequence as in chess but make different moves to create good formation of pieces.
  • Search algorithm : The Search algorithm that looks ahead more deeply in a sequence of moves allows the program to better evaluate a move. The search is harder in shogi than in chess because of the larger number of possible moves. A program will stop searching when it reaches a stable position. The problem is many positions are unstable because of the drop move.
  • Endgame : The endgame starts when the king is attacked and ends when the game is won. In chess there are fewer pieces which leads to perfect play by endgame databases. In shogi pieces can be dropped so there are no endgame databases. A Tsumeshogi solver is used to quickly find mating moves.

Computer shogi programs that have played at the annual World Computer Shogi Championships:

  • Bonanza won first place in 2013 and at its first entry in the championships in 2006. Programmer Kunihito Hoki was living in Canada.
  • YSS won in 1997, 2004 and 2007. YSS won 2nd place in 1999, 2000, 2003, 2006 and 3rd place in 1994. Programmer is Hiroshi Yamashita. YSS entered the first time in the 1991 tournament.
  • IS Shogi won in 1998, 2000, 2001 and 2003. Yasushi Tanase was part of the Tokyo University team that wrote IS Shogi.
  • Tanase shogi won 2nd place in 2007 and 2008 also written by Yasushi Tanase.
  • Gekisashi won 2002, 2005, 2008 and 2010. The Gekisashi team is led by Yoshimasa Tsuruoka.
  • KCC Shogi came in second place in 2005 and is from North Korea.
  • Shogi Kakinoki won 2nd place in 1990, 1992, 1993 and 1996 and written by Yoshikazu Kakinoki.
  • Kiwame won in 1992, 1993 and 1994 and written by Shinichirou Kanazawa.
  • Shogi Kanazawa won in 1996 and in 1999 also written by Shinichirou Kanazawa.
  • Morita Shogi won in 1991 and written by Kazurou Morita.
  • Shotest won 3rd place in 1998, 1999 and written by British programmer Jeff Rollason.
  • Spear a free program written by Reijer Grimbergen has won 9th place of 24 in the 2009 upper division contest.
  • GPS Shogi is free software written by staffers and students of the University of Tokyo and won in 2009 and 2012.

Computer Shogi programs that play in video game systems:

  • Habu Meijin no Omoshiro Shōgi plays on the Super Famicom.
  • Clubhouse Games includes Shogi and plays on the Nintendo DS.
  • Shotest Shogi plays on the Xbox.
  • List of shogi video games.

GNU Shogi is a free software program by the Free Software Foundation that plays Shogi.

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