*Interested in thinking of similarities and differences between chess and Shogi(Japanese chess) through playing both games.
* Similarities
-Checkmate is the ultimate object.
-Up in material is important.
-Three phases such as Opening, Middlegame and Endgame exist.
*Differences
-Shogi board has more squares like 9x9.
-Shogi pieces are eight kinds while chessmen are six sorts.
-Shogi pieces are 40 in total while chessmen are 32.
-Shogi has "drop" rule. It makes the number of pieces to be used will be unchanged from the start to the end of a game, while chessmen will go away gradually as a match goes by.
*Draw rate is significantly lower in shogi, even between top players.
*Castling takes longer moves and its patterns are richer in shogi.
*Tactical sacrifices occur more often in shogi. It's usual more than a few sacrifices happen in a game.
* No stalemate in shogi.
* May have a chance to play a shogi game in the following places;
http://81dojo.com/
http://littlegolem.net/
I play there under the name of takodori which is the same as one here.