General

The general (2 (or 9 in the European version)) is the second most powerful piece, just after the marshal. It can only be defeated by a bomb, a marshal, or another general, and can safely attack 25-33 of your opponent's pieces. It is generally best to keep your general somewhere generally accessible, in case you have the general need for it.

Strategies
The general is generally used to protect the spy, so that if it is defeated by the opponent's marshal, their marshal can then be defeated. If not placed adjacent to the spy, it it generally best to keep another piece adjacent to it (or at least in it's general area), as to bluff a spy, especially if your general has been revealed, or if you think your opponent has a general idea which piece it is.