Makruk

Makruk ( Thai: หมากรุก, [ Makruk ] ) is the name of the Thai chess. Its rules are the famous chess -like than is the case with other Asian Xiangqi or Shogi variants like, but there are also some similarities with these two games.

The game board and pieces

The game is played like chess on a large 8x8 board with 16 characters per player. Unlike most Asian variants usual the "figures" truly three-dimensional, so there are not only different lettered tiles.

The game pieces are to be:

  • A leader ( called Kun ขุน ) ( equivalent to platoons and function of the king in chess )
  • A vizier ( called Med เม็ด ) (? ) ( moves one space diagonally )
  • Two trees ( called Con โคน ) (? ) ( moves one square diagonally or forward)
  • Two horses ( called Ma ม้า ) ( equivalent to platoons Springer, that can jump )
  • Two boats ( called Rua เรือ ) (equivalent to platoons in the tower )
  • Eight farmers ( called Bia เบี้ย 6) (equivalent to platoons in the farmer at chess, but has no double move. On the third basic series of the opponent ( front row of the opponent's pawn ) be sent to viziers )

Instead of the non-existent castling the king can make a jump like a horse in the game once. Some variants allow the vizier as first train a double move.

The basic installation

The basic installation corresponds substantially to that of chess. In the last row, so the figures in the order boat, horse, tree, king, vizier be set up (from left to right, then mirror image). It must be noted that this applies to white and black, that is, unlike in chess the two kings are not opposite, but change places with each of the viziers.

Unlike chess, the farmers preferred a row, that is, they are now in the 3rd and 6th series held on the 2nd and 7th Moreover, they are always converted only in viziers, on the 6th and 3. place on the 8th row or first row.

Endgame

When Thai Chess ( Makruk ) can hope " count " of at a disadvantage exploiting dividend players on the. The count is to ensure that the advantage in exploiting dividend player his game does not continue too far and in a certain number of trains has put the opponent Matt. Creates the advantage in exploiting dividend players not to do so, the game ends in a draw.

There are two different counts:

The board count

This can be done as soon as no more pawn is on the board. ( The vizier to or to "Med" becoming farmers do not count as a farmer. ) The disadvantage in exploiting dividend player can begin the count. Creates the advantage in exploiting dividend is not player to put his opponent in 64 moves matt, the game ends in a draw. The count starts at 1

The character count

If a player has only the king on the board, he can apply character count. The advantage in exploiting dividend player has subsequently much time to enforce the opponent faint.

The count does not start at 1, as in the board count, but starts with the number of the on board the figures.

Examples

Example 1

White: Rua 1 2 Med; Black: Only customers

Black can apply character count and, with his train 6 (1 customer knows Rua 1 white, 2 Med white, 1 black Kun = 5 and the count 1 = 6). So the opponent has exactly 10 trains time to put the opponent faint. Would be on the board instead of a Con Rua, White would have 44-6 = 38 trains.

Example 2

White: Rua 1 2 Med; Black: 1 Ma

Black can only apply for board count, because he still has a measure, would hit the horse during the game, so the character count would start ( as 1 example).

Handicap

There are not as in Shogi or Go specifications, yet are found in Thai " Sumter " (Chess Clubs in the Thai sense) extremely good players that grant requirements.

Simple specification:

  • -1 Med
  • -1 Con
  • -1 Ma

Turn a Rua ( Rua is in Med transforms )

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