Makruk Rate : 4

Makruk, also known as Thai chess, is a captivating strategy game with roots tracing back to the 6th-century Indian game of chaturanga. Played on an 8x8 board, Makruk features unique pieces and rules that set it apart from its international counterpart. The game's objective remains the same: to checkmate the opponent's king. However, Makruk places a strong emphasis on tactical skill and strategic planning, making it a beloved pastime in Thailand.

Features of Makruk:

• Play Against AIs: Challenge yourself against artificial intelligence opponents of varying difficulties, from Easy to Expert, to hone your skills.
• Daily Challenge: Test your prowess with a new challenge every day, keeping the gameplay fresh and exciting.
• Global Leaderboard: Compete against players from around the world and strive to climb the ranks on the global leaderboard.
• Share Your Games: Share your best moves and strategies with friends and family, fostering a community of Makruk enthusiasts.
• Undo & Save/Load: Undo any mistakes and save your progress, allowing you to continue playing at your convenience.
• Timer Based Game: Add an extra layer of excitement with timed gameplay, intensifying the strategic challenge.

Makruk (Thai: หมากรุก; rtgs: Mak Ruk) is considered the most similar living game to the ancient chaturanga, the common ancestor of all chess variants. In Thailand, approximately two million people can play Makruk, compared to just 5,000 who can play international chess.

Former world chess champion Vladimir Kramnik has praised Makruk for its strategic depth, stating that it requires meticulous planning, akin to the anticipated endgame in international chess.

Rules

The Pawn (เบี้ย bia, a cowry shell):

• Moves and captures like a pawn in international chess but cannot move two steps on its first move and, therefore, cannot be captured en passant.
• A pawn that reaches the sixth rank is always promoted to a queen (med).

The Queen (เม็ด met):

• The weakest piece, it moves one step in any diagonal direction, similar to the fers in shatranj or a cat sword in dai shogi.

The Bishop (โคน khon, nobleman or mask):

• Moves one step in any diagonal direction or one step forward, akin to the silver general in shogi.

The Knight (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 pieces in its path.

The Rook (เรือ ruea, boat):

• Moves like a rook 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. He is allowed to make a Ses (knight jump) at his first move, though this special move is no longer used in Thailand. The game ends when the king is checkmated.

What's New

• Bug fixed.