The Gold General
📋 What it is
The Gold General moves one square in any direction EXCEPT the two backward diagonals — six squares.
🗣️ Coach says
The Gold is the King's best bodyguard. It moves one square any direction except the two rear diagonals — so six squares, all pointing usefully forward and sideways. Golds are prized defenders; you rarely trade one cheaply, and they cannot promote.
🧠 Memory hook
Gold = six squares: everywhere but the two back corners. The King's shield.
😂 Giggle
Why don't shogi pieces argue about which team they're on?
Because a captured piece just flips sides and gets over it!
😲 Whoa!
The Gold and Silver "promote" differently: a promoted Silver actually MOVES like a Gold — so many pieces in shogi end up sharing the Gold's move.
✅ Quick check: A Gold General can move one square in every direction except which two?
Say your answer out loud first — then reveal.
The two backward diagonals — it covers forward, sideways, straight back, and the two forward diagonals (six squares).
The Gold's only blind spots are the two rear-diagonal squares.
🧪 Try it! (2 minutes)
Mark the Gold's six squares and the Silver's five. Compare where each is strong.