About Makruk
Makruk, also called Thai Chess, is a two-player strategy game played on an 8x8 board with two armies of sixteen pieces. Descended from the ancient game of chaturanga, it is one of the closest living relatives of the original chess and remains hugely popular in Thailand today.
Its short-range pieces, third-rank pawns, and the diagonal-stepping Met make Makruk slower and more maneuvering than international chess. White moves first, and the first player to checkmate the enemy Khun wins.
Play Makruk vs AI
Play Makruk online against the computer to learn how each piece moves, practice promoting your Bia, and get comfortable with the game's patient, positional rhythm.
Start on an easy level to absorb the basics, then raise the difficulty to face an opponent that defends stubbornly and punishes an exposed Khun with precise endgame play.
How to play Makruk
The rules of Makruk reward understanding its short-range pieces: the Met steps one square diagonally, the Khon moves forward or diagonally, and the Ruea sweep open lines like rooks. Pawns start on the third rank, capture diagonally, and promote to a Met on the sixth rank.
There is no castling and no en passant, so kings must be sheltered by hand, and games are frequently decided in long, careful endgames rather than quick opening attacks.
Improve by learning strategy
Strong Makruk strategy balances slow, coordinated development with a fight for the center, where short-range pieces gain the most reach. Advance your Met and Khon together, open files for your Ruea, and look for chances to promote a Bia.
Keep your Khun sheltered, convert small advantages into the endgame, and remember the counting rules when you are the one trying to force checkmate with limited material.
Frequently Asked Questions
You win by checkmating the enemy Khun, meaning the king is under attack and cannot avoid capture on the next move. If the player to move has no legal move but is not in check, the game is drawn by stalemate. Keeping your own Khun safe while cornering your opponent's is the heart of the game.
Similar games you might like
If you enjoy Makruk, you will probably like these other abstract strategy board games.
Learn, Play, and Have Fun!
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