Makruk
Makruk, also known as Thai chess, is a captivating strategy game that shares similarities with traditional chess but distinguishes itself with unique rules and pieces. Played on an 8x8 board, the game involves pieces like the king, queen, and various pawns, each with distinct movements. The ultimate goal is to checkmate the opponent's king, a task that requires both tactical skill and strategic planning. This game enjoys immense popularity in Thailand, engaging players in a rich cultural pastime.
Features of Makruk:
- Play Against AIs: Hone your skills by challenging artificial intelligence opponents, available at varying difficulty levels from Easy to Expert.
- Daily Challenge: Keep your gameplay fresh with a new challenge every day, testing your adaptability and strategic thinking.
- Global Leaderboard: Compete against players from around the world, striving to climb the ranks and prove your mastery of Makruk.
- Share Your Games: Showcase your best moves and strategies by sharing your games with friends and family, fostering a community of enthusiasts.
- Undo & Save/Load: Correct any missteps with the undo feature and save your game to resume play later, enhancing your overall experience.
- Timer Based Game: Inject an element of urgency and excitement into your matches with timed gameplay, pushing your decision-making skills to the limit.
Makruk, or Thai chess (Thai: หมากรุก; rtgs: Mak Ruk), traces its origins back to the 6th-century Indian game of chaturanga or a closely related game, making it a direct descendant of the common ancestor of all chess variants. It is considered one of the most similar living games to this ancient progenitor.
In Thailand, around two million people play Makruk, while only 5,000 can play international chess. According to former world chess champion Vladimir Kramnik, Makruk is more strategic than international chess, demanding meticulous planning and foresight akin to an anticipated endgame in international chess.
Rules
The Pawn (called เบี้ย bia, a cowry shell, formerly used for money):
- Moves and captures like a pawn in international chess but cannot move two steps on its first move, thus eliminating the possibility of being captured en passant.
- A pawn that reaches the sixth rank is always promoted to a queen (med).
The Queen (called เม็ด met), the weakest piece:
- Moves one step in any diagonal direction, similar to the fers in shatranj or a cat sword in dai shogi.
The Bishop (called โคน khon, nobleman or mask):
- Moves one step in any diagonal direction or one step forward, resembling the silver general in shogi.
The Knight (called ม้า ma, horse):
- Moves like a knight in Western chess, two steps in one direction and then one step perpendicular to that movement, jumping over any intervening pieces.
The Rook (called เรือ ruea, boat):
- Moves like a rook in Western chess, any number of steps horizontally or vertically.
The King (called ขุน khun):
- Moves like a king in international chess – one step in any direction. It is also allowed to make a Ses (knight jump) at its first move, although this special move is no longer used in Thailand. The game concludes when the king is checkmated.
What's New
- Bug fixes have been implemented to enhance gameplay and user experience.
By exploring Makruk, players not only engage in a challenging and strategic game but also connect with a centuries-old tradition deeply rooted in Thai culture.
Makruk
Makruk, also known as Thai chess, is a captivating strategy game that shares similarities with traditional chess but distinguishes itself with unique rules and pieces. Played on an 8x8 board, the game involves pieces like the king, queen, and various pawns, each with distinct movements. The ultimate goal is to checkmate the opponent's king, a task that requires both tactical skill and strategic planning. This game enjoys immense popularity in Thailand, engaging players in a rich cultural pastime.
Features of Makruk:
- Play Against AIs: Hone your skills by challenging artificial intelligence opponents, available at varying difficulty levels from Easy to Expert.
- Daily Challenge: Keep your gameplay fresh with a new challenge every day, testing your adaptability and strategic thinking.
- Global Leaderboard: Compete against players from around the world, striving to climb the ranks and prove your mastery of Makruk.
- Share Your Games: Showcase your best moves and strategies by sharing your games with friends and family, fostering a community of enthusiasts.
- Undo & Save/Load: Correct any missteps with the undo feature and save your game to resume play later, enhancing your overall experience.
- Timer Based Game: Inject an element of urgency and excitement into your matches with timed gameplay, pushing your decision-making skills to the limit.
Makruk, or Thai chess (Thai: หมากรุก; rtgs: Mak Ruk), traces its origins back to the 6th-century Indian game of chaturanga or a closely related game, making it a direct descendant of the common ancestor of all chess variants. It is considered one of the most similar living games to this ancient progenitor.
In Thailand, around two million people play Makruk, while only 5,000 can play international chess. According to former world chess champion Vladimir Kramnik, Makruk is more strategic than international chess, demanding meticulous planning and foresight akin to an anticipated endgame in international chess.
Rules
The Pawn (called เบี้ย bia, a cowry shell, formerly used for money):
- Moves and captures like a pawn in international chess but cannot move two steps on its first move, thus eliminating the possibility of being captured en passant.
- A pawn that reaches the sixth rank is always promoted to a queen (med).
The Queen (called เม็ด met), the weakest piece:
- Moves one step in any diagonal direction, similar to the fers in shatranj or a cat sword in dai shogi.
The Bishop (called โคน khon, nobleman or mask):
- Moves one step in any diagonal direction or one step forward, resembling the silver general in shogi.
The Knight (called ม้า ma, horse):
- Moves like a knight in Western chess, two steps in one direction and then one step perpendicular to that movement, jumping over any intervening pieces.
The Rook (called เรือ ruea, boat):
- Moves like a rook in Western chess, any number of steps horizontally or vertically.
The King (called ขุน khun):
- Moves like a king in international chess – one step in any direction. It is also allowed to make a Ses (knight jump) at its first move, although this special move is no longer used in Thailand. The game concludes when the king is checkmated.
What's New
- Bug fixes have been implemented to enhance gameplay and user experience.
By exploring Makruk, players not only engage in a challenging and strategic game but also connect with a centuries-old tradition deeply rooted in Thai culture.
