threat of material loss, as defined above. That is, if First attacks Middle, and Middle defends by moving in such a way that First now checks Last (a discovered attack), this does not force an alliance between First and Middle. Or, if Last attacks First, and First defends by checking Last, and then Middle threatens Last's rook, this does not force an alliance between First and Middle either. Rules that change in an alliance Several rules that change or come into force when an alliance is made have been mentioned above: Any of the three kings which has not already castled loses the ability to do so; The non-allied king is immediately promoted; Allied players lose the ability to promote their pieces, though any pieces already promoted remain so (it is not clear if the ability to promote returns once the alliance is dissolved); The two allied kings lose the right to win by reaching the Pleasure Garden (it is not clear if this ability returns once the alliance is dissolved); Neither ally may check or checkmate the other, and Both allies lose if either is checkmated. Sample game Here are the first six rounds of a game played at a meeting of the International Shogi Research Group on 28 May 1932. John Fairbairn describes some of the moves as "strange" considering the professional level of the players. The players were, First: Kimi Kinjiro (8-dan) Middle: Miyamatsu Kanzaburo (7-dan) Last: Yamamoto Kusuro (7-dan) The game began without an alliance. See also Yonin shogi (four-person shogi) Shogi variant Three-player chess References Article from Shogi Magazine Japanese page Board games introduced in 1930 Shogi variants