Makruk, also known as Thai chess, is a captivating traditional strategy game that shares similarities with international chess but boasts its own unique set of rules and pieces. Played on an 8x8 board, the game involves pieces such as the king, queen, and various pawns, each with distinct movement patterns. The ultimate goal is to checkmate the opponent's king, demanding a high level of tactical skill and strategic planning. This makes Makruk a beloved pastime in Thailand.
Features of Makruk:
- Play Against AIs: Sharpen your skills by competing against artificial intelligences ranging from Easy to Expert levels.
- Daily Challenge: Engage in a new challenge each day to test your prowess and keep the gameplay exciting.
- Global Leaderboard: Compete with players from around the world and strive to climb the ranks to the top.
- Share Your Games: Showcase your best moves by sharing your games with friends and family.
- Undo & Save/Load: Correct any mistakes with the undo feature and save your game to resume later at your convenience.
- Timer Based Game: Experience the thrill of timed gameplay, adding an extra layer of excitement to each match.
Makruk (Thai: หมากรุก; RTGS: Mak Ruk), or Thai chess, is a board game that traces its origins to the 6th-century Indian game of chaturanga or a closely related variant, positioning it as a direct descendant of the common ancestor to all chess variants. This game remains one of the most faithful to its ancient roots among living chess variants.
In Thailand, around two million people are adept at playing Makruk, while approximately 5,000 can play international chess. According to former world chess champion Vladimir Kramnik, Makruk Thai demands more strategic planning than international chess. He notes that the game requires meticulous operational planning, akin to an anticipated endgame in international chess.
Rules
The Pawn
Called เบี้ย (bia), which historically refers to a cowry shell used as currency, the pawn moves and captures similarly to its international counterpart but cannot advance two squares on its initial move and thus cannot be captured en passant. Upon reaching the sixth rank, a pawn is invariably promoted to a queen (med).
The Queen
Known as เม็ด (met), this piece is the weakest on the board. It moves one step diagonally in any direction, reminiscent of the fers in shatranj or the cat sword in dai shogi.
The Bishop
Called โคน (khon), which translates to nobleman or mask, the bishop moves one step diagonally or one step forward, similar to the silver general in shogi.
The Knight
Referred to as ม้า (ma), meaning horse, the knight moves exactly as it does in Western chess—two steps in one direction and then one step perpendicular, jumping over any intervening pieces.
The Rook
Known as เรือ (ruea), or boat, the rook's movement mirrors that of its Western counterpart, allowing it to move any number of steps horizontally or vertically.
The King (Ang)
The king moves one step in any direction, just like in international chess. It also has a special move called Ses, allowing it to make a knight's jump on its first move, though this is no longer used in Thailand. The game concludes when the king is checkmated.
What's New
- Bug fixes to enhance your gaming experience.
By engaging with Makruk, players can delve into a rich strategic game that not only challenges their mind but also connects them to a centuries-old tradition of chess-like gameplay.
