Pawn & Lance
📋 What it is
A Pawn moves one square forward; a Lance moves any number of squares straight forward (never back).
🗣️ Coach says
Two forward-only foot soldiers. The Pawn steps one square ahead. The Lance is like a rook that only goes FORWARD — it slides any distance straight ahead but can never turn or retreat. Both are cheap but useful attackers.
🧠 Memory hook
Pawn = one step ahead. Lance = a forward-only rook. Neither ever turns back.
😂 Giggle
Why did the pawn bring a parachute to the match?
It heard the best pieces know how to drop in!
😲 Whoa!
Shogi has NINE pawns per side (one per file) and, unlike chess, a pawn captures straight ahead — the same square it moves to.
✅ Quick check: How is a Lance's movement different from a Pawn's?
Say your answer out loud first — then reveal.
A Lance slides any number of squares straight forward; a Pawn moves just one square forward. Both go forward only.
The Lance is a long-range forward slider; the Pawn is a single forward step.
🪄 Trick question: Can a shogi Pawn capture a piece sitting diagonally in front of it, like a chess pawn?
Careful — think it through, then reveal.
No — a shogi Pawn captures straight ahead (the square it moves to), not diagonally.
Shogi pawns move and capture on the same forward square.
🧪 Try it! (2 minutes)
Slide a "Lance" straight up a file and a "Pawn" one step. Confirm neither can move backward.