What Do You Need to Learn to Get Stronger at Shogi(Japanese chess)? From Beginner to 3-Dan
The Bottom Line If you learn Joseki, Tesuji, Kakoikuzushi, and Tsume Shogi, you’ll generally be in good shape. In terms of priority, it feels like: Joseki = Tesuji = Kakoikuzushi >> Tsume Shogi. That said, doing a moderate amount of Tsume Shogi is still important. Many of the commonly discussed methods for improving at shogi come from Japan. For players outside the country, it can be hard to know what to study, so I’ve summarized the key points here. 1. Learning Joseki (Opening,定跡) Joseki is a collection of established sequences showing how to play from the starting position. Shogi is a game where it’s notoriously difficult to know what the "right" move is from the very first turn. Joseki helps you solve this by memorizing proven patterns. Generally, if you know your Joseki, you’ll win more often. It’s quite important. Check the link for study methods. I’ve also included a link to the simplest Joseki. https://shogicoach.blogspot.com/2025/12/shogi-strategy-climbing-silve...