Makruk

Makruk, also known as Thai chess, is a captivating traditional strategy game that shares similarities with chess but boasts distinct rules and pieces. Played on an 8x8 board, the game involves pieces such as the king, queen, and various pawns, each with unique movement patterns. The ultimate goal is to checkmate the opponent's king, emphasizing tactical skill and strategic planning, which makes it a beloved pastime in Thailand.

Features of Makruk:

Play Against AIs: Sharpen your skills by challenging artificial intelligence opponents ranging from Easy to Expert levels.

Daily Challenge: Engage in a new challenge every day to test your prowess and keep your skills sharp.

Global Leaderboard: Compete against players from around the world and strive to climb the ranks to showcase your mastery.

Share Your Games: Share your most impressive moves and strategies with friends and family to inspire and learn from each other.

Undo & Save/Load: Correct any mistakes with the undo feature and save your game to resume playing at your convenience.

Timer-Based Game: Experience an added thrill with timed gameplay, pushing your decision-making to the next level.

Makruk (Thai: หมากรุก; rtgs: Mak Ruk;), or Thai chess, is a board game that evolved from the 6th-century Indian game of chaturanga or its close relative. This connection makes it a direct descendant of the common ancestor of all chess variants. It's considered the living game most similar to this ancient precursor.

An estimated two million Thais are adept at playing makruk, while only 5,000 can play international chess. According to former world chess champion Vladimir Kramnik, Makruk Thai demands even more strategic planning than international chess. Players must approach their moves with meticulous care, as Makruk Thai can be likened to the anticipated endgame of international chess.

Rules

The Pawn (เบี้ย bia, a cowry shell): Moves and captures akin to a pawn in international chess but cannot advance two squares on its initial move, thus eliminating the possibility of en passant capture. Upon reaching the sixth rank, it is always promoted to a queen (med).

The Queen (เม็ด met): The weakest piece on the board, it can only move one step diagonally, similar to the fers in shatranj or a cat sword in dai shogi.

The Bishop (โคน khon, nobleman or mask): Moves one step diagonally or one step forward, much like the silver general in shogi.

The Knight (ม้า ma, horse): Moves identically to a knight in Western chess—two steps in one direction followed by a perpendicular step, leaping over any intervening pieces.

The Rook (เรือ ruea, boat): Moves as a rook does in Western chess—any number of steps horizontally or vertically.

The King (Ang): Moves like a king in international chess—one step in any direction. It was once allowed to make 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 fixed.