Makruk
Makruk, also known as Thai chess, is a captivating traditional strategy game that shares similarities with chess but boasts its own distinct rules and pieces. Played on an 8x8 board, the game involves pieces such as the king, queen, and various pawns, each with unique movements. The ultimate goal is to checkmate the opponent's king, making it a test of tactical skill and strategic planning that enjoys widespread popularity in Thailand.
Features of Makruk:
Play Against AIs: Sharpen your skills by challenging artificial intelligence opponents at different difficulty levels, ranging from Easy to Expert.
Daily Challenge: Engage with a fresh challenge every day to keep your skills honed and the game exciting.
Global Leaderboard: Compete on a global scale, striving to climb the ranks and prove your prowess against players from around the world.
Share Your Games: Showcase your best moves by sharing your games with friends and family, fostering a community of enthusiasts.
Undo & Save/Load: Correct your moves with the undo feature and save your game progress to resume playing at your convenience.
Timer Based Game: Elevate the thrill with timed gameplay, adding an extra layer of excitement and challenge.
Makruk (Thai: หมากรุก; RTGS: Mak Ruk), or Thai chess, is a board game that traces its roots back to the 6th-century Indian game of chaturanga or a close relative thereof, positioning it as a relative of chess. It is considered the most akin to this common ancestor among all chess variants.
Approximately two million Thais are adept at playing makruk, while only 5,000 can play chess, highlighting its dominance in the region. Former world chess champion Vladimir Kramnik has noted that Makruk Thai demands a higher degree of strategic planning, likening it to an anticipated endgame in international chess.
Rules
The Pawn (called เบี้ย bia, a cowry shell, formerly used for money) moves and captures similarly to a pawn in international chess, but it cannot advance two squares on its first move and thus cannot be captured en passant. Upon reaching the sixth rank, a pawn is always promoted to a queen (med).
The Queen (called เม็ด met), the weakest piece, moves one step diagonally in any direction, resembling the fers in shatranj or the cat sword in dai shogi.
The Bishop (called โคน khon, nobleman or mask) moves one step diagonally or one step forward, akin to the silver general in shogi.
The Knight (called ม้า ma, horse) moves exactly like a knight in Western chess, jumping over any pieces: two steps in one direction, then one step perpendicular.
The Rook (called เรือ ruea, boat) mirrors the rook in Western chess, moving any number of steps horizontally or vertically.
The King (called ขุน khun, lord) moves like a king in international chess—one step in any direction. The king can perform a Ses (knight jump) on its first move, though 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 your gaming experience.
Makruk
Makruk, also known as Thai chess, is a captivating traditional strategy game that shares similarities with chess but boasts its own distinct rules and pieces. Played on an 8x8 board, the game involves pieces such as the king, queen, and various pawns, each with unique movements. The ultimate goal is to checkmate the opponent's king, making it a test of tactical skill and strategic planning that enjoys widespread popularity in Thailand.
Features of Makruk:
Play Against AIs: Sharpen your skills by challenging artificial intelligence opponents at different difficulty levels, ranging from Easy to Expert.
Daily Challenge: Engage with a fresh challenge every day to keep your skills honed and the game exciting.
Global Leaderboard: Compete on a global scale, striving to climb the ranks and prove your prowess against players from around the world.
Share Your Games: Showcase your best moves by sharing your games with friends and family, fostering a community of enthusiasts.
Undo & Save/Load: Correct your moves with the undo feature and save your game progress to resume playing at your convenience.
Timer Based Game: Elevate the thrill with timed gameplay, adding an extra layer of excitement and challenge.
Makruk (Thai: หมากรุก; RTGS: Mak Ruk), or Thai chess, is a board game that traces its roots back to the 6th-century Indian game of chaturanga or a close relative thereof, positioning it as a relative of chess. It is considered the most akin to this common ancestor among all chess variants.
Approximately two million Thais are adept at playing makruk, while only 5,000 can play chess, highlighting its dominance in the region. Former world chess champion Vladimir Kramnik has noted that Makruk Thai demands a higher degree of strategic planning, likening it to an anticipated endgame in international chess.
Rules
The Pawn (called เบี้ย bia, a cowry shell, formerly used for money) moves and captures similarly to a pawn in international chess, but it cannot advance two squares on its first move and thus cannot be captured en passant. Upon reaching the sixth rank, a pawn is always promoted to a queen (med).
The Queen (called เม็ด met), the weakest piece, moves one step diagonally in any direction, resembling the fers in shatranj or the cat sword in dai shogi.
The Bishop (called โคน khon, nobleman or mask) moves one step diagonally or one step forward, akin to the silver general in shogi.
The Knight (called ม้า ma, horse) moves exactly like a knight in Western chess, jumping over any pieces: two steps in one direction, then one step perpendicular.
The Rook (called เรือ ruea, boat) mirrors the rook in Western chess, moving any number of steps horizontally or vertically.
The King (called ขุน khun, lord) moves like a king in international chess—one step in any direction. The king can perform a Ses (knight jump) on its first move, though 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 your gaming experience.
