Editing Shogi (section)

==== Repetition (draw) ====
{{Main|Sennichite}}

If the same game position occurs four times with the same player to move and the same pieces in hand for each player, then the game ends in a '''repetition draw''' (千日手 ''sennichite,'' lit. "moves for a thousand days"), as long as the positions are not due to [[perpetual check]]. Perpetual check (連続王手の千日手) is an illegal move (see above), which ends the game in a loss in tournament play.

In professional shogi, a repetition draw outcome is not a final result as draws essentially do not count. Each game can only end in either a win or loss.{{efn | This is a significant difference from western chess, in which a player can play specifically to obtain draws for gaining points.}} In the case of a repetition draw, professional shogi players will have to immediately play a subsequent game (or as many games as necessary) with sides reversed in order to obtain a true win outcome. (That is, the player who was White becomes Black, and vice versa.) Also, depending on the tournament, professional players play the subsequent game in the remainder of the allowed game time.

Thus, aiming for a repetition draw may be a possible professional strategy for the White player in order to play the second replay game as Black, which has a slight statistical advantage and/or greater initiative. For instance, [[Bishop Exchange Fourth File Rook]] is a passive strategy for White with the goal of a repetition draw (as it requires two tempo losses – swinging the rook and trading the bishops) while it is a very aggressive strategy if played by Black.

Repetition draws are rare in professional shogi occurring in about 1–2% of games and even rarer in amateur games. In professional shogi, repetition draws usually occur in the opening as certain positions are reached that are theoretically disadvantaged for both sides ([[reciprocal zugzwang]]). In amateur shogi, repetition draws tend to occur in the middle or endgame as a result of player errors.