High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Shogi, or Japanese Chess, is similar to chess but has a much larger game tree complexity because of the use of drops. However, like chess, the game can be divided into the opening, middle game and endgame, each requiring a different strategy. The opening consists of arranging one`s defenses and positioning for attack, the mid game consists of attempting to break through the opposing defenses while maintaining one`s own, and the end game starts when one side`s defenses have been compromised.