Makruk

Makruk is a chess variant native to Thailand. It is believed to be a descendant of the ancient Indian game of chaturanga, making it a close relative to chess, shogi, and xiangqi.

History:

Makruk's history traces back to the spread of chaturanga through Asia. While the exact timeline is debated, it is generally accepted that the game arrived in Thailand sometime before the 15th century. Over time, the rules and piece movements evolved, leading to the distinct characteristics of modern Makruk.

Gameplay:

Makruk is played on an 8x8 uncheckered board. Each player starts with sixteen pieces:

• King (Khun): Moves one square in any direction.
• Queen (Met): Moves one square diagonally.
• Rook (Ruea): Moves any number of squares horizontally or vertically.
• Bishop (Khon): Moves one square diagonally forward or any number of squares diagonally backward.
• Knight (Ma): Moves in an "L" shape: two squares in one direction (horizontally or vertically) and then one square perpendicular to that. It jumps over intervening pieces.
• Pawn (Bia): Moves one square forward. Pawns promote to Queens (Mets) upon reaching the opposite rank. On their first move, pawns cannot move two squares. Pawns capture one square diagonally forward.

Initial Setup:

The initial setup is similar to chess, but with some key differences:

• The pawns are placed on the third rank.
• The Bishops (Khon) are placed on the squares where the Queens usually are in chess.
• The Queens (Met) are placed to the side of the King.

Objective:

The objective of Makruk is to checkmate the opponent's King, meaning the King is under attack and there is no legal move to remove it from attack.

Draws:

Draws are common in Makruk and can occur in several ways:

• Perpetual Check: A player continuously checks the opponent's King with no way for the opponent to avoid the checks.
• Stalemate: The player whose turn it is to move has no legal move and their King is not in check.
• Agreement: Both players agree to a draw.
• Repetition: The same position occurs three times with the same player to move.
• Insufficient Mating Material: Neither player has enough pieces to force a checkmate.

Differences from International Chess:

Key differences between Makruk and international chess include:

• The Queen's (Met's) limited movement.
• The Bishop's (Khon's) limited movement.
• Pawns starting on the third rank and not having the option to move two squares on their initial move.
• The frequency of draws.

Cultural Significance:

Makruk is a popular game in Thailand and is considered part of the country's cultural heritage. It is often played in public parks and markets, and is taught in schools. Tournaments are held regularly, and professional Makruk players exist.