Makruk (Thai Chess)
Thai chess: slow pieces, quick pawns and a careful king hunt.
How to play Makruk
Makruk is the chess of Thailand, and a close cousin of the Western game. It is played on 8 × 8 squares of one colour. The pawns start on the third row, the kings do not face each other, and most pieces move only one step. White moves first, then the players take turns.
Goal
Checkmate the enemy king (Khun): attack it so that it cannot escape.
How the pieces move
- Khun (king): one square in any direction.
- Rua (boat): any distance straight, like a chess rook. It is the strongest piece.
- Ma (horse): jumps in an L shape, exactly like a chess knight.
- Khon (nobleman): one square diagonally, or one square straight forward.
- Met (seed): one square diagonally in any direction.
- Bia (pawn): one square straight forward, and it captures one square diagonally forward. There is no double step.
Turn by turn
- Tap one of your pieces. Glowing dots show where it can go.
- Tap a dot to move. An enemy piece on that square is captured.
- When a pawn reaches the sixth row (the enemy's third row), it turns over at once and becomes a Bia Ngai, which moves like a Met.
- You may never leave your own king in check.
End of the game
Checkmate wins. A player with no legal move who is not in check has been stalemated, and the game is a draw. It is also a draw when only the two kings are left, or when the same position comes up three times.
Real Makruk uses counting rules: the weaker side counts moves out loud, and a win must come before the count ends. This site keeps it simple: if 64 moves by each side pass with no capture and no pawn move, the game is a draw. The status bar shows how many moves are left once the count gets close. You may also like Chess and Shogi.
Strategy tips
- The Rua rules the board. With no queen, the boats are by far the strongest pieces. Open files for them and do not trade them cheaply.
- Pawns meet early. Pawns start only two rows apart, so fights in the centre begin at once. Keep your pawns linked so they guard each other.
- Use the Khon to block and attack. A Khon is strong in front of pawns, but it cannot step back straight. Do not push it so far that it gets trapped.
- Promote for a second Met. A pawn only needs three steps to promote. An extra Met near the enemy king is often enough to decide the game.
- Mind the count. Mating with small pieces is slow. When you are ahead, trade into a Rua or keep pawns that can still move, so the count does not run out.
Makruk FAQ
How is Makruk different from chess?
There is no queen and no castling, and pawns move one step from the third row. The Met and Khon move only one square, so the game is slower and more about careful attack.
How does the counting rule work here?
We use a simple move limit instead of the full Thai counting rules: 64 moves by each side with no capture and no pawn move ends the game in a draw.
Can I choose what my pawn becomes?
No. In Makruk a pawn on the sixth row always becomes a Bia Ngai, a turned-over pawn that moves like a Met: one square diagonally.
How strong is the computer?
Easy makes loose moves and is good for learning. Medium thinks for about a third of a second. Hard thinks for about a second and rarely misses a tactic.
