All Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza Shogi Puzzles Solutions

Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is yet another entry in the long-running Like A Dragon (formerly Yakuza) series. A new Like A Dragon means the return of several evergreen minigames, including the likes of mahjong, shogi, and nine-ball pool. Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii provides brand new incentive for players to delve into these minigames. Rare treasure lies in wait for those dedicated enough to earn enough points in each minigame to purchase them. However, this also includes shogi, the intimidating strategy board game similar to chess. But you don’t have to play shogi matches to earn enough points for all those rare items. Puzzle Shogi is a great alternative. Here’s all Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza Shogi Puzzles Solutions.

All Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza Shogi Puzzles Solutions

Before we begin, it’s worth pointing out that every shogi puzzle in Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is either a one-move or three-move checkmate. In addition, you’re only allowed to make moves that place the opponent’s King in check. This means your actual list of viable moves in the shogi puzzles is much smaller than it may first appear. In other words, by reviewing the way pieces move in the help section, and thinking carefully about what move’s your opponent can make while checked, it’s possible to deduce whether or not your move will work.

Also, a “three-move mate” counts your opponent’s turn as well. Even the hardest shogi puzzle will flow as follows: your first move will check your opponent, they will take their turn to escape the check, and your next move needs to deliver a checkmate. Lastly, not every first move you’re allowed to make in the three-move mate puzzles is the correct one. Just because the first check in later puzzles is accepted, it doesn’t mean it will lead to a checkmate on your next move. Solving the shogi puzzles can turn out to be a lot of fun! With all that being said, let’s begin with the first puzzle. Be aware the starting state of every puzzle will be at the top of every section, and puzzle solutions will be displayed at the bottom of each section.

Puzzle Shogi 1

The first shogi puzzle highlights how several pieces move in shogi. You have a Gold General and a Silver General side-by-side, with the opponent’s King corralled against the edge of the board. The goal of this puzzle is to checkmate the opponent’s King immediately, without giving it a safe space to escape to.

Solution: Move your Silver General one space up- but do not promote it! Silver Generals normally guard (and can move to) the three-space immediately in front, and the spaces behind and diagonal to it. When promoted, they lose their sight of those diagonal rear spaces in exchange for being able to protect their sides and immediately behind them. By moving your Silver General up and not promoting it, it is attacking the King, placing it in check. The King cannot capture the Silver General, because your Gold General is guarding the three spaces directly in front of it! The King cannot escape to the left, because the Gold General is also guarding that space. Your opponent’s Lance and Pawns can only move forward. It’s checkmate!

Puzzle Shogi 2

This puzzle helps explain how placing stolen pieces back onto the board works. Once again, you have a Gold General guarding the three spaces immediately in front of it, and a Knight in your reserves. The opponent’s King cannot move forward, but a checkmate is necessary to secure the win.

Solution: Take the Knight in your reserve and place it one space to the right of your Gold General. Similar to chess, shogi’s unpromoted Knight piece can only move forward in vertical L shapes. As in, up two spaces, and then one space left or right. By placing your Knight next to your Silver General, the opponent’s King is put into check. The opponent’s Gold Generals cannot capture or block your Knight’s attack. The opponent’s King cannot escape to a safe space. Checkmate!

Puzzle Shogi 3

Puzzle three features the promotion function of shogi, and how to use it to your advantage. The opponent’s Lance, King, and Pawn are forming a vertical line at the edge of the board. You have a Pawn and Rook side-by-side, parallel with the enemy Pawn. For this puzzle, you need to move and promote one of your pieces to checkmate the King.

Solution: Move your Rook up one space, and promote it. In Shogi, Rooks move just like they do in chess! When promoted, they retain that movement, but are also able to move one space in any other direction as well. Moving your Rook here places the King in check, and promoting the Rook prevents the King from escaping diagonally. Your opponent cannot move their other pieces to block your check. The result: a checkmate!

Puzzle Shogi 4

The fourth Shogi Puzzle is similar to the second. It also showcases the limits a check places on your opponent. With a lone Silver General on the board, and a Gold General in reserve, you have to checkmate your opponent’s King with one move.

Solution: Place the Gold General one space behind and one space to the right of your Silver General. Your opponent’s King cannot move to a safe space, and it cannot capture your Gold General because your Silver General is protecting it. Your Gold General’s attack cannot be captured or blocked by your opponent’s other pieces. That’s checkmate!

Puzzle Shogi 5

Puzzle five is another one-move mate. Your lone Pawn and Silver General prevent the opponent’s King from advancing forward. The King cannot retreat backward due to the presence of your Silver General, and your promoted Rook protects the Silver General from being captured. The goal is to place the King in checkmate while simultaneously protecting the pieces performing it.

Solution: Move your promoted Rook one space up and to the right, directly in front of your Silver General. This places the King in check while still protecting your Silver General from capture. The King cannot capture the Rook, because your Silver General is protecting it in turn. The King has no possible moves, and none of your opponent’s other pieces can prevent the attack. There’s your checkmate!

Puzzle Shogi 6

Shogi puzzle six is your first three-move mate puzzle. You’ve got a Bishop and a Pawn placed in a vertical line with a space in-between, with a Gold General in reserve. The opponent has a Lance, a King, and a Pawn in a similar arrangement in the column to the right of yours. Your Bishop is in immediate danger from your opponent’s King. Your first move needs to move or protect the Bishop, while also placing the King in check. It also needs to force the King into a position you can checkmate it in on your next turn.

Solution: Move your Pawn one space up and promote it. The promotion allows your Pawn to place the King in check and protect your Bishop! Promoted Pawns can move one space in all directions except for its diagonal rear. In this position, the promoted Pawn also protects the space to the right of it. This forces your opponent to move their King backwards to the space in front of your Bishop. On your next turn, place the Gold General on the left of the Bishop to check the King. This space is protected by your promoted Pawn. The King cannot capture your Gold General, it cannot capture your Bishop, and it has no safe spaces to move to. This ends in a checkmate!

Puzzle Shogi 7

The seventh puzzle is another three-move mate. This puzzle describes the benefit of sacrificing one of your pieces in order to fool your opponent into a worse position. Your Rook is forming an offensive line adjacent to the King, blocking it from moving to the right. Your Knights are blocking the King’s movement directly forward, and diagonally backwards and to the left. Don’t forget about your Bishop waiting in the upper corner of the board. You have a Silver General in reserve. The Knight blocking the King’s retreat is in danger from your opponent’s Gold General, and in most of your first moves, the King is able to prevent checkmate on your following turn.

Solution: Take the Silver General out of reserve, and place it in the space above your opponent’s Gold General. This will place the King in check. Your opponent will capture the Silver General with their Gold General. This move leaves the space directly in front of the King unprotected! Move your Bishop directly in front of the King and promote it. This will place the King in check. With this promotion, your Bishop and Rook attack every space adjacent to the King. The Knight behind your Rook is protecting your Bishop from being captured. There’s nowhere for the King to go; checkmate!

Puzzle Shogi 8

This puzzle combines the lessons you learned in the previous puzzle with earlier puzzles. Your Silver General blocks the King’s advance, and your promoted Rook prevents its retreat. You have a Silver and Gold General in reserve. Any move that doesn’t place the King in check will allow your opponent to improve their position.

Solution: On your first move, place your Gold General in the space above the King. This check forces your opponent into one possible move. They will take your Gold General with their Bishop. For your last turn, place the Silver General from reserves to the right of your Rook. If you had done this as your first move, the King would have been able to escape to the space above it. However, now that the Bishop is there, the King can no longer get away from the Silver General’s check! Checkmate!

Puzzle Shogi 9

Shogi puzzle nine is about finding an advantage in a difficult position. You only have a promoted Rook on the board, but have a Gold General and a Bishop in reserve. However, your opponent’s King is trapped in its current position. Moving your Rook will give the King an escape, so utilize your pieces in reserve to achieve victory.

Solution: Take the Bishop in reserve and place it directly in front of the Silver General. With this check, you’ll force your opponent to take your Bishop with their Silver General. Notice that, in this new position, the Silver General is no longer able to sacrifice itself to protect the King in the event of an attack! Take the Gold General in reserve and place it to the left of your opponent’s King. This spot was previously protected by the Silver General. Without any way of blocking this attack or escaping to a safe space, the King is trapped! Checkmate acquired!

Puzzle Shogi 10

The final shogi puzzle isn’t a culmination of previous lessons. Instead, it’s a brand new lesson about moving pieces out of the way to create checks. You have a Silver General, two Bishops, and a Lance on the board. Your opponent is in a difficult position, but can prevent your checkmate if left unchecked. Your objective in this puzzle is to force the King into a worse position that you can follow-up with a checkmate.

Solution: First, force the King into a disadvantageous retreat. Move your left Bishop to the space above your opponent’s King. Your opponent will take your Bishop with their King. Notice that the King can no longer retreat diagonally to the left due to your Silver General’s placement. Your leftover Bishop is now in the Lance’s way. Move the Bishop to the left of the King. Your Lance will put the King in check. The King cannot escape to a safe space. Your Silver General is also protecting your Bishop, so the King can’t capture it to escape. Finally, checkmate!

Completing all the Shogi Puzzles will give you enough points to clean out the shop of all its items. This includes a few crew members, and a piece of treasure for your collection! If you’re looking to 100% the game, check our guide on All the Crewmates in Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. You might also want to know about where to find All the Pets in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. Shogi can be mind-numbing. Learn How to Unlock Sicko Snap in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii for a silly change of pace.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is available now for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series, Xbox One and PC.