Shogi Analysis Shogi Analysis

Guide

How to find the best move in shogi

Last updated: October 21, 2026

When you add a game or a position to Shogi Analysis (an iPhone and Android app), a shogi engine on the server shows the best move and the top 3 candidate moves in any position, with the eval and win rate of each and the line that follows. Moves you want to try are analyzed on the spot when you move the piece on the board.

How do I see the best moves in a game I played?

Add the game and open it in Analysis. In every position, the best move is shown as an arrow on the board, and “Candidate moves” lists the top 3 moves with their eval and win rate. Tap a candidate move to replay the line that follows, one move at a time on the board.

  • The game move row below the board compares the move played with the best move, with the eval and win rate of each. If they match, it says “◎ Matches the best move”.
  • When the best move has a clear aim, it is described in words, such as “Aims to check and win the rook”.

For how to add games, see the guides for Shogi Wars, Shogi Quest, Piyo Shogi and others. For how to read the screen, see How to read a shogi game analysis.

How do I check whether the move I have in mind is the best?

Move the piece on the Analysis board (Try a move). The eval and win rate after your move are shown next to those of the best move in that position, and your opponent’s top 3 replies are analyzed too. You can keep playing your opponent’s reply and the moves after it.

Trying moves is limited to 3 games a day on the free plan (any number of moves within a game) and unlimited on Premium.

How do I find the best move in a position without a game record (board diagram or SFEN)?

Copy a board diagram (a KIF position diagram), an SFEN or a KENTO position share link and tap “Paste from clipboard”. The position is added to your game list, and in Analysis you can see the best move and the top 3 candidate moves. If the side to move has a mate in 15 or fewer moves, it also becomes a problem (a tsume puzzle for mates up to 7 moves, a next move problem for 9 or more).

  • Positions with only one king (such as tsume diagrams) can’t be opened in Analysis. If there is a mate, only the problem is created.
  • Only KENTO share links of a position without moves can be read. Positions can’t be read from images.
  • Each position counts as one game toward the free plan.

Which engine finds the moves?

YaneuraOu with the Suisho 5 evaluation function, searching 1,000,000 nodes per position. The engine runs on the server, so your phone’s speed doesn’t matter.

Can I use it during a game?

Getting help from software during a game may be against the rules of your game service. Please use Shogi Analysis to review finished games and to study positions.

Related guides

To learn more about Shogi Analysis, see the home page.