Makruk 1

'Standard' (30 days + 1 day/move, max 45 days)
This game is being played under Makruk (Thai Chess) rules. Click the 'info' tab for more information.
Clock started on 05/31/2008
1. f4 f5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 Kf7 5. e4 Qe7 6. e5 dxe5 7. fxe5 Nfd7 8. d4 b5 9. Rh2 Bb7 10. Be2 bxc4 11. bxc4 Nb6 12. Rb1 Ra7 13. Bd3 N8d7 14. h4 Rb8 15. Rbb2 Nc8 16. c5 a5 17. Bd2 Ba6 18. Rxb8 Nxb8 19. Be3 Bb5 20. d5 exd5 21. Nd4 Kg8 22. e6 Qd6 23. cxd6 Nxd6 24. Qxd5 Rb7 25. Rb2 Bf6 26. Qc4 Ba6 27. Kc1 Rxb2 28. Kxb2 Kf7 29. Nb3 Nd7 30. Bed4 g5 31. hxg5 hxg5 32. Bc5 Nxc5 33. Nxc5 Bb7 34. Qf2 Bb6 35. Nb3 f4 36. gxf4 gxf4 37. Nd2 Ke6 38. Na4 Bc7 39. Nc5+ Ke7 40. Be2 Bf5 41. Bf3 Bb6 42. Nd3 Kf6 43. Bxf4 Bxf4 44. Nxf4 Bc5 45. Qd3 Bd4 46. Kc2 Nb5 47. Nc4 a4 48. Kd2 Bc5 49. Nb2 Nxa3 50. Nxa4 Bd4 51. Qe3 Nb1+ 52. Ke2 Nc3+ 53. Nxc3 Bxc3 54. Qc4 Bb4 55. Qd5 cxd5 56. Nxd5+ Ke5 57. Nxb4 Ke4 58. Nd3 Kd5 59. Kf3 Kc6 60. Ke4 Kd6 61. Qd4 Kc6 62. Ke5 Kd7 63. Kd5 Kc7 64. Kc5 Kd7 65. Nf4 Kc7 66. Kb5 Kd6 67. Kb6 Kd7 68. Qe5 Kc8 69. Nd5 Kd7 70. Nc7 Ke7 71. Kc6 Kf7 72. Kd6 Kg6 73. Ne6 Kf5 74. Kd5 Kg4 75. Ke4 Kg3 76. Ke3 Kg4 77. Nd4 Kg3 78. Qf4+ Kg2 79. Ke2 Kh3 80. Kf2 Kg4 81. Ke3 Kh3 82. Kf3 Kh2 83. Nf5 Kg1 84. Ng3 Kh2 85. Qe3 Kh3 86. Nf1 Kh4 87. Kg2 Kg4 88. Ng3 Kg5 89. Kh3 Kf6 90. Qd4 Ke6 91. Kg4 Kd5 92. Qe3 Ke5 93. Kf3 Kd5 94. Nf5 Kc5 95. Ne7 Kd6 96. Ng8 Kd5 97. Kg4 Ke4 98. Qf4 Kd5 99. Kf3 Ke6 100. Qg5 Kd5 101. Kf4 Kd4 102. Ne7 Kc5 103. Ke4 Kd6 104. Ng8 Kc5 105. Ke5 Kc4 106. Ke4 Kc5 107. Ne7 Kd6 108. Qf6 Kc5 109. Qe5 Kb6 110. Qd6 Kb5 111. Qc7 Kc5 112. Ke3 Kc4 113. Ke4 Kc5 114. Kd3 Kb5 115. Kd4 Ka6 116. Kd5 Kb7 117. Kd6 Ka6 118. Kc6 Ka5 119. Kc5 Ka6 120. Qb8 Kb7 121. Nc6 Kc8 122. Kb6 Kd7 123. Qc7 Ke6 124. Nb4 Ke5 125. Kc5 Ke4 126. Kd6 Kd4 127. Qb6 Ke4 128. Qc5 Kf4 129. Kd5 Ke3 130. Na2 Kf4 131. Nc1 Ke3 132. Qd4+ Kf4 133. Qc3 Ke3 134. Kc4 Ke4 135. Qd2 Ke5 136. Nd3+ Ke4 137. Nc5+ Kf3 138. Kd3 Kf4 139. Qe1 Ke5 140. Ne4 Kd5 141. Nf6+ Ke5 142. Nh5 Kd5 143. Nf4+ Ke5 144. Ke3 Kd6 145. Qd2 Ke5 146. Qc3 Kd6 147. Kd4 Kc6 148. Ne6 Kd6 149. Ng7 Kc6 150. Qb4 Kd6 151. Nf5+ Kc6 152. Ne7+ Kd6 153. Nd5 Kc6 154. Kc4 Kd6 155. Qc5+ Ke5 156. Ne7 Ke4 157. Qd6 Kf4 158. Kd3 Kf3 159. Qe5 Kg3 160. Ng6 Kf3 161. Qf4 Kg4 162. Ke4 Kh3 163. Kf3 Kh2 164. Nh4 Kg1 165. Qg3 Kf1 166. Qf2
Draw


Chess variant very popular in Thailand and Kambodia, where it is played by millions of people, important tournaments are shown in TV and newspapers publish Makruk games and problems. The game is probably derived from chaturanga, therefore it bears some similarities to Shatranj.

 

1. Pieces and Movement

Makruk can be played with a traditional chess set, 8x8 board is used and the starting position is similar, only queens and bishops are replaced with differently moving pieces.

 

Makruk initial position (rnbqkbnr/8/pppppppp/8/8/PPPPPPPP/8/RNBKQBNR)

Makruk initial position

http://wiki.schemingmind.com/pieces/makruk__solid_darkgreen/32/wk.gif
Khun (king) moves as in standard chess, except there is no castling
http://wiki.schemingmind.com/pieces/makruk__solid_darkgreen/32/wr.gif
Reuua (boat, rook) moves as in standard chess
http://wiki.schemingmind.com/pieces/makruk__solid_darkgreen/32/wn.gif
Maa (horse, knight) moves as in standard chess
http://wiki.schemingmind.com/pieces/makruk__solid_darkgreen/32/wp.gif
Biia (shell, pawn) moves as in standard chess, except there is no initial two-step, it always promotes to met and promotion occurs on the 6th rank.
http://wiki.schemingmind.com/pieces/makruk__solid_darkgreen/32/wq.gif
Met (minister, queen) moves to the first diagonal square (in any direction)
http://wiki.schemingmind.com/pieces/makruk__solid_darkgreen/32/wb.gif
Khon (bishop) moves as met, but can also move and capture one square up (but not down).

Comparing to Shatranj, the only change in piece set is that alfil is replaced with khon.

Note that in the initial setup kings are not staying on the same file. This is important as thanks to it both mets are of the same colour.

Some websites about Makruk (or Cambodian Chess) mention also additional special moves of the king (opportunity to make knight move on the very first king move, only if king is not checked) and queen (move straight to e3/d6). Those rules happen to be used in street play (just to accelerate opening a bit), but are not allowed in serious tournaments. They are also not available on schemingmind.

 

2. Rules

 

2.1. Comparison with chess

The rules of Makruk are similar to Standard Chess, with the following exceptions:

  • Pawn promotion occurs on 6th rank

Special counting rule limits length of the game, allowing a player to claim a draw in special situation (see description below).

  • There is no 3-fold repetition and no 50-move rule (both are replaced by counting rule).
  • Different pieces are in use, we have khon and met instead of queen and bishop (see above)

There are check and checkmate, and they work just as they do in standard chess. There is stalemate and it is a draw.

 

2.2. Comparison with shatranj

Comparing to Shatranj initial position is changed, khon replaces alfil, pawn promotion occurs earlier, stalemate is a draw and counting rule introduces specific endgame handling (of course there is no bare king victory).

 

2.3. First counting rule (no pawns)

When neither side has any pawns (all are promoted or taken), the game must be finished within 64 moves, or it is declared draw. Traditionally the side who is in disadvantage is counting the moves, and is allowed to stop counting if he or she no longer feels at disadvantage.

 

The counting rule is not yet enforced by the server, see below how it should be handled in meantime.

 

2.4. Second counting rule (bare king)

When one side remains with a bare king (last other piece is captured), the counting is restarted. But, in this case, the moves number is calculated in a special way, as X-Y, where Y is the count of all the pieces remaining on the board and X is dependant on the stronger side material (pick the first matching rule):

  • At least two reuua (rooks): 8 moves
  • At least one reuua (rook): 16 moves
  • At least two khons (bishops): 22 moves
  • At least two maa (knights): 32 moves
  • At least one khon (bishop): 44 moves
  • At least one maa (knight): 64 moves
  • Only mets (queens) left: 64 moves

So, if white has king, two rooks and knight versus lone black king, he must deliver mate in 8 (two rooks) - 5 (five pieces) = 3 moves, or the game is declared draw. Or if white has king, khon, two mets and a pawn versus lone king, he has 44 (at least one khon) - 6 (six pieces) = 38 moves.

Some players mistakenly restart counting if black captures some white piece, this is not correct.

The counting rule is not yet enforced by the server, see below how it should be handled in meantime.

 

2.5. The counting rule is not yet enforced

The counting rule is not yet implemented in the server - when it is, the server will simply allow to claim a draw once the counting rule criteria are fulfilled. Until then, the weaker player is expected to perform those calculations and to offer a draw at correct moment adding a note about expired counting rule (those duties replace counting in normal game) and the stronger player is expected to accept such offer (after verifying whether it is correct).

Unfortunately, because the rule is not yet enforced by the server, the counting rule can only be used voluntarily by either player. The use of the counting rule should be agreed by both players before the game or tournament starts and the webmaster will not terminate a game based on this rule unless this agreement is clear at the beginning of the game discussion.

 

3. Game hints

 

3.1. Pieces strength

The strongest piece is of course reuua (rook), followed by maa (knight). Khons (bishops) are also fairly useful thanks to the possibility of changing the square colour (they seem more useful than knights especially while trying to mate weaker opponent). As promotion is rather easy, met (queen) value does not significantly exceed the value of the pawn.

 

3.2. Openings

To be written (a few sample openings)

 

3.3. Middlegame

To be written

 

3.4. Endgame

As pawns are exchanged or promoted fairly quickly (pawns need only 3 moves to reach promotion square) endgame must be defined differently than in standard chess, probably as the situation when kings remain without pawns and with only a few supporting pieces.

Counting rule impacts endgame significantly. In particular, there are different sacrificial combinations where the weaker side gives up the last piece(s) to secure the draw thanks to the counting rule. For example, in king and rook versus king and two rooks, in many cases weaker side can sacrifice the rook as the opponent will not be able to deliver a checkmate in four moves.

Do not forget that khons are assymetric. So, for example, it may be easier to checkmate opponent's king on 8th rank, than on the first rank or on the sideline.

More to be written

 

4. Example games

Some example games, picked from those few already played:

All those games contain blunders, this is natural considering makruk is just starting its schemingmind life. If you played or observed good makruk game, feel free to add it here.

Rooks can mate - rooks still can deliver a mate, like in standard chess,

Mating with khon and two mets - some example of mating with small material (not sure whether black defended perfectly, he would have to survive until move 98 to draw due to the counting rule),

Khons in middlegame - quite a lot of tactical play with heavily utilised khons.

Mating with knight and two mets - another example of ending (and interesting game before).

Nice rook mate - black nicely exploits the weak rank.

Checkmating with knon and mets made easy - yet another example how to efficienty deliver checkmate.

 

5. Additional info

Valuable links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makruk (wikipiedia article including counting rule)

http://www.xs4all.nl/~timkr/chess/makruk.htm (Tim Krabbe article - memories from travel to Cambodia and games played there, problems)

http://www.chessvariants.org/oriental.dir/thai.html (chessvariants article)

 

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Game Page Help

The Action Bar

The Action Bar is the most important part of the game screen, this is where you interact with the game by entering moves, conditional moves, comments, draw offers, resignations, and much more (if you are not viewing one of your own games, the Action Bar is not shown).  The Action Bar is in four parts, from left to right:

  1. The Move Input Box: where your move or conditional move is shown; it is possible to type into this box, but not recommended, you can enter your move by dragging and dropping the pieces on the board.
  2. The Action Selection Dropdown: this is where you select the action you want to do, for example, move, enter a comment, accept a draw offer, claim a draw, etc.  Only the actions which are relevant to the current game are shown.
  3. The Continue Button: this button sends your action back to our server; sometimes you might see a pop-up text box before the action is sent, this is so that you can write a message to your opponent.  You can set your preferences so that this box is always shown to confirm you move (under the "Chess Board" tab "Confirm moves before committing), some people find this helpful as a "blunder check".
  4. The Next Game button: clicking the button will take you to the next game for which it is your move.

The Game Information Panel

Under the Action Bar, you should find the Game Information Panel.  This gives you more information about the game; because there is too much information to see on one screen here, it is arranged into "tab"; you can move between the various screens by clicking the buttons, from left to right:

  1. Game Overview: this tab shows the full history of the game, including comments (you cannot read the comments from another player's game, unless the game is marked as "public"), leave taken, etc.  You can click the moves to see the position on the chess board.
  2. Hide Comments: this tab shows the moves of the game only, without the distraction of the comments shown on the game overview tab.
  3. Material Balance: this tab shows the captured pieces in the game.  If you are playing CrazyHouse chess, or a similar game, you can drag pieces from here to the board to make a "drop".
  4. Tags: You can "tag" games, this makes it easier to come back to games, you can find the games you have tagged from the game database screen.
  5. Variant Information: this tab is available for some chess variants, it will show you a description of the variant.
  6. Opening Information: In standard chess games, this tab will show you information about the chess opening you have been playing, taken from the Game Explorer.
  7. Analysis Board: Opening this tab will overlay an "analysis board" on the main chess board; you can move the pieces around freely on this board to try out various ideas in the game.
  8. Engine Analysis: This tab allows you to analyse the game using a chess engine; because the use of engines is not allowed on SchemingMind, this tab is not available for ongoing games.
  9. Help: If you are reading this, you have already figured out what the help button does!

The Chess Board

The chess board shows the current position in your game; if it is your move, or if you can enter a conditional move, you can drag and drop the pieces on the chess board.

If you wish to castle, simply drag your king over the rook on the side you wish to castle on.  When you promote a pawn, you will see a pop-up prompting you to select the promoted piece.

We have a number of different designs for chess boards and pieces, you can select the one you prefer from your personal preferences.

Under the chess board is a navigation toolbar (this toolbar looks slightly different if you are looking at the analysis board).

From left to right:

  • Settings: This button will bring up your chess board and pieces display settings.
  • Download Game: This button will allow you to download the game in PGN format.
  • Copy Position: This button will copy the position to your clipboard.
  • Move to Start: This button will show the start position of the game.
  • Previous Move: This button will move position shown on the board back one move.
  • Next Move: This button will show the next position on the board.
  • Last Move: This button will show the current position on the board.
  • Flip: This button will show the board from the other player's perspective (by default you see games from White's perspective unless you are Black; you can select an option to always show the board from White's perspective in your personal preferences).
  • Animate: If you are not looking at the last move in the game, this button will animate the game from the shown position to the last move.
  • Stop Animation: This button will stop the animation.
  • Analysis Board: This button will show the Analysis Board (see above).

View this article in the Knowledge Base.

Chess Board

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