CHESMAYNE

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Thai Chess

 

   Links: Thai chess Thai chess (Makruk)  Thai chess game  Thai chess program  Thai chess set  Thai chess v1.0 Thai BG

01 Played in Thailand.   Similar to Burmese chess.   2+ million Thais are familiar with its rules.  Thai chess is similar to ‘Marruk’ or ‘Makrook’ and ‘Shogi’.   The big games are reported on TV and in newspapers.    When playing traditional Thai chess an unchequered board is used for play.  The chequered pattern familiar to western players is shown below.  Free Demo! http://www.zillions-of-games.com/index.html - Jens Markmann page - The zillions index                      

Thai Chess

02 GMs are called ‘sian’ [‘god’]. 

03 Suchart Chaivichit has been the Thai National Champion for the past decade.  Veeraphol Sunthornpongsathorn is also a very strong player of this game. 

04 8 x 8 board.   The mps are placed on rank-3 (:A) and rank-6 (:B) - ISP.   Promotion also occurs on these ranks for :A

 and :B.    In Thailand it is the norm to use Arabic numerals for the ranks and Thai numerals for the files. 

05 A Thai chess set has 32 MPs/mps - 8 MPs and 8 mps pieces per player. 

 

Tribal children, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Monogram, name and Thai name translation

1 KI = King, KI, Khun, Lord.

1 AD = Adviser, AD1, Met, Fruitstone.

2 RO = Rook, RO1 and RO2, Rua, Boat.

2 ET = Elephant, ET1 and ET2, Thon, Nobleman.

2 KT = Knight, KT1 and KT2, Ma, Horse.

8 PT = Pawn Thai, PT1 to PT8, Bia , Cowrie.

RO2

KT2

ET2

AD1

  KI

ET1

KT1

RO1

8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7

PT8

PT7

PT6

PT5

PT4

PT3

PT2

PT1

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

PT1

PT2

PT3

PT4

PT5

PT6

PT7

PT8

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

RO1

KT1

ET1

AD1

  KI

ET2

KT2

RO2

1

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

 

 

There are a total of 16 MPs/mps per side in Thai chess. 

  

Left: Thailand Buddhist Temple.    Right: Thai Dragons, Buddhist Temple. 

Pawn Thai

Monogram, Pawn Thai (PT) PT1, PT2, PT3 etc. 

First Move Option, (FMO), 1 cell directly forward. 

All Other Moves, (AOM), 1 cell directly forward. 

Capture (*), 1 cell diagonally forward. 

Promotable (#), Yes, only to AD. 

Special Move - SM, No. 

Above: exotic sunset, Wat Arun and Chao Phyra River - Thailand

06 :A-PTs promote to ADs (A-AD2, A-AD3 etc) on rank-6 for :A. 

:B-PTs promote to ADs (B-AD2, B-AD3 etc) on rank-3 for :B. 

07 Special Moves (:sm) are not allowed in modern Thai chess. 

08A Special Moves (:sm), also known as ‘privilege moves’ for some of the MPs were permitted in the past. 

 

        

In Thailand, chess is a very popular hobby for both children and adults.   The Chess Club at our school is now in its fourth year and proving to be just as popular as ever.  Although the Thai people have their own special version of chess, the students also enjoy playing the more well-known ‘world version’ [traditional western chess].  The students have the choice to play ‘Thai Chess’ or the ‘World version’ against their friends or the computer. 

        

World [Western] Chess - Simulataneous Chess - Thai Chess

 

 

08B Allowing the KI to move like KT1 on his first move (FMO). 

08C Allowing AD1 to move two cells on the first move (FMO). 

09 Castling (%) is not permitted (%K, %AD). 

10 Laborious endgames are avoided by the following rules: 

10A When a player has no ROs, ETs or KTs, h/er opponent must checkmate in a prescribed number of moves.    The prescribed number of moves is dependent on the number of MPs that the other player has on the board. 

        

Above: my name is Nawapol Paibool, I was the winner of the Thai Chess Tournament at school this year.   I have been playing for two years.  My father taught me how to play and I play with him often.   I like to play chess very much because it is good exercise for my brain.   In Thailand, everyone likes to play Thai Chess.   Not many people know how to play ‘world chess’ so it is not that popular here.   Last term we had a ‘World Chess Tournament’ at school.   I learnt how to play on the computer and with my friends.   I did not win the competition but I reached Round Two.  If you can play ‘World Chess’ then I am sure you can play Thai Chess too.   It is nearly the same with only a few differences. 

10B If your opponent has RO1 and RO2 then checkmate must occur in 8 moves. 

10C If your opponent has one RO then checkmate must occur in 16 moves. 

10D If your opponent has ET1 and ET2 then checkmate must occur in 22 moves. 

10E If your opponent has one ET then checkmate must occur in 44 moves. 

10F If your opponent has KT1 and KT2 then checkmate must occur in 33 moves.

  

This year we had just over 40 students interested in the ‘World Chess Tournament’.   It is not so easy for us to find boards for this version of chess as most people only play Thai chess.   So, all of the early rounds were played on the computer over a period of five days. 

         

 

10G If the opponent has one KT then checkmate must occur in 66 moves. 

10H The above checkmate rules take no account of ADs. 

11 Stalemate (++ST) is considered a draw. 

12 The KI, ROs (RO1 and RO2), KTs (KT1 and KT2) are the exact same as used in traditional chess.    There is a lack of vector MPs [QU and BSs - long-range]. 

13 AD1 (Adviser) moves one cell diagonally forward or back. 

14 2 Elephants.  ET1 and ET2 move one cell diagonally or, can move one cell forward (changing from the XL to the XD cells in the process).   Note: to account for the slight difference in the moving ability of ET1, ET2 (used in Burmese chess) and EL1, EL2 (used in Shatranj) a different monogram is used.   Both types of MP are Elephants. 

15 Each side has 8 mps.   Pawn-Thai: PT1, PT2, PT3, PT4, PT5, PT6, PT7 and PT8. 

  

On 27th November 2000, we were pleased to welcome back Mr. Tim Rogalski from the USA for the 2nd ‘Simultaneous World Chess Exhibition’.   Mr. Tim played 18 of our best players at the same time in a match that lasted for nearly three hours.   The event was braodcast live on television screens around the school and also on the internet.   Click here for the chess score sheets. 

   

We selected 18 of our best students from both the Primary and Secondary school.   The competition started at four in the afternoon with Mr. Tim walking around the room playing one piece at a time.   Once Mr. Tim had made his move, the students were given about 1-2 minutes thinking time as it took Mr. Tim a little while to walk around the room making one move on each of the 18 boards. 

   

On his return, the students had to make their move straight away.   They weren’t allowed to move while he was elsewhere.   The students really enjoyed the two hour exhibition even though none of them were winners.   This has now become an annual event.   We look forward to meeting Mr. Tim again in 2001.   Please click here for pictures from the 1999 Exhibition. 

 

 

16 A PT does not have the option of moving two cells on the initial first move (FMO). 

17 A PT captures just like a PA.   The ‘en passant’ move is not available. 

18 A PT is promoted on reaching the promotion cells in the opponent’s half of the board. 

19 The ISP of the PTs is shown in the diagram below.    All games of Thai chess commence by placing the mps in this manner. 

20 The MPs are placed on rank-1 (for :A) and on rank-8 for :B. 

   

Mr. Tim Rogalski from the USA visited our school to take part in a ‘Simultaneous World Chess Exhibition’.   Tim had contacted us through our web site about two months previously as he was looking for a school in Thailand that would be willing to take part in this chess exhibition.        

       

We selected 17 of our best students from both the Primary and Secondary school.  The competition started at four in the afternoon with Tim walking around the room playing one piece at a time……. 

           

Once Tim had made his move, the students were given about 1-2 minutes thinking time as it took Tim a little while to walk around the room making one move on each of the 17 boards.   On his return, the students had to make their move straight away.   They weren’t allowed to move while he was elsewhere.  The students really enjoyed the two hour exhibition even though none of them were winners.  We are hoping to make this an annual event. 

 

 

 

21 The objective of the game is to checkmate the opposing KI. 

22 The opening set of moves (:&O) are leisurely due to not having any vector MPs (QUs and BSs).   :A and :B avoid clashes until the development stage is completed. 

23 KT2 is usually moved in front of the KI. 

24 KT1 is placed beside KT2 on $F03 for :A and on $C06 for :B. 

25 A-AD1 is placed on $E03 for :A and on $D06 for :B (via $FO2 for :A and via $C07 for :B).   Thus, the ADs face the enemy KIs (on the same file). 

26 The ETs are placed beside the KTs. 

27 :A and :B then advance on the KI-side of the board with the objective of forcing an open file. 

How to place the MPs and PTs on the Thai Chess board (ISP):

RO2

KT2

ET2

AD1

  KI

ET1

KT1

RO1

8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7

PT8

PT7

PT6

PT5

PT4

PT3

PT2

PT1

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

PT1

PT2

PT3

PT4

PT5

PT6

PT7

PT8

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

RO1

KT1

ET1

AD1

  KI

ET2

KT2

RO2

1

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

 

Above: ISP for Thai Chess in the Chesmayne style/format  

28 Example game of Thai Chess (see below).   Set-up the chess pieces as shown in the diagram above. 

 

Example Game-01: Thai Chess

The XY notation is shown on the left.   The acentric is indicated on the right. 

01A

KT1-B01/D02

KT1-D02/C03

01B

ET1-F08/F07

ET1-D17/C12

02A

KT2-G01/E02

KT2-D07/C04

02B

KT1-G08/E07

KT1-D16/C13

03A

ET1-C01/C02

ET1-D03/C02

03B

KT2-B08/D07

KT2-D21/C14

04A

AD1-E01/F02

AD1-D05/C05

04B

AD1-D08/C07

AD1-D19/C15

05A

PT8-H03/H04

PT8-D10/D11

05B

PT7-B06/B05

PT7-C17/C18

06A

PT7-G03/G04

PT7-C07/C08

06B

PT8-A06/A05

PT8-D24/D25

07A

KI-D01/C01

KI-D04/D03

07B

ET2-C08/B07

ET2-D20/C16

08A

KI-C01/B02

KI-D03/C01

08B

KT2-D07/B06

KT2-C14/C17

09A

ET2-F01/G02

ET2-D06/C06

09B

PT6-C06/C05

PT6-B10/B11

10A

PT7-G04/G05

PT7-C08/C09

10B

ET2-B07/C06

ET2-C16/B10

11A

PT7-G05*F06-PT3

PT7-C09*B07-PT3

11B

ET1-F07*F06-PT7

ET1-C12*B07-PT7

12A

PT5-E03/E04

PT5-B03/A02

12B

RO2-A08/B08

RO2-D22/D21

13A

AD1-F02/E03

AD1-C05/B03

13B

PT5-D06/D05

PT5-B09/A04

14A

PT4-D03/D04

PT4-B02/A01

14B

AD1-C07/D06

AD1-C15/B09

15A

RO1-A01/E01

RO1-D01/D05

15B

KI-E08/F07

KI-D18/C12

16A

RO2-H01/F01

RO2-D08/D06

16B

RO1-H08/C08

RO1-D15/D20

17A

PT8-H04/H05

PT8-D11/D12

17B

PT2-G06/G05

PT2-C10/C09

18A

PT5-E04/E05

PT5-A02/A03

18B

AD1-D06*E05-PT5

AD1-B09*A03-PT5

19A

PT4-D04*E05-AD1

PT4-A01*A03-AD1

19B

ET1-F06*E05-PT4

ET1-B07*A03-PT4

20A

PT6-F03/F04

PT6-B04/B05

20B

PT2-G05*F04-PT6

PT2-C09*B05-PT6

21A

AD1-E03*F04-PT2

AD1-B03*B05-PT2

21B

ET1-E05/F06

ET1-A03/B07

22A

AD1-F04/E05

AD1-B05/A03

22B

ET1-F06/F05

ET1-B07/B06

23A

AD1-E05/D06

AD1-A03/B09

23B

KT1-E07/G08

KT1-C13/D16

24A

KT2-E02/G03

KT2-C04/C07

24B

RO2-B08/B07

RO2-D21/C16

25A

ET2-G02/F03

ET2-C06/B04

25B

KI-F07/G07

KI-C12/C11

26A

KT2-G03*F05-ET1

KT2-C07*B06-ET1

26B

PT4-E06*F05-KT2

PT4-B08*B06-KT2

27A

ET2-F03/F04

ET2-B04/B05

27B

ET8-A05/A04

ET8-D25/D26

28A

ET2-F04*F05-PT4

ET2-B05*B06-ET4

28B

PT8-A04*B03-PT2

PT8-D26*C20-PT2

29A

ET1-C02*B03-PT8

ET1-C02/C20-PT8

29B

KI-G07/H08

KI-C11/D15

30A

RO2-F01/F03

RO2-D06/B04

30B

RO1-C08/D08

RO1-D20/D19

31A

AD1-D06/E05

AD1-B09/A03

31B

RO1-D08/E08

RO1-D19/D18

32A

RO2-F03/G03

RO2-B04/C07

32B

RO2-B07/F07

RO2-C16/C12

33A

ET2-F05/G06

ET2-B06/C10

33B

RO2-F07/F02

RO2-C12/C05

34A

KI-B02/C01

KI-C01/D03

34B

KT2-B06/D07

KT2-C17/C14

35A

RO1-E01/G01

RO1-D05/D07

35B

RO1-E08*E05-AD1

RO1-D18*A03-AD1

36A

ET2-G06/G07+CH

ET2-C10/C11+CH

36B

KI-H08/H07

KI-D15/D14

37A

ET2-G07*G08-KT1+CH

ET2-C11*D16-KT1+CH

37B

KI-H07/H08

KI-D14/D15

38A

ET2-G08/H07+CH

ET2-D16/D14+CH

38B

KI-H08*H07-ET2

KI-D15*D14-ET2

39A

RO2-G03/G07+CH

RO2-C07/C11+CH

39B

KI-H07/H08

KI-D14/D15

40A

RO2-G07/G08+CH

RO2-C11/D16+CH

40B

KI-H08/H07

KI-D15/D14

41A

RO1-G01/G07++CM

RO1-D07/C11++CM

 

++WN for :A

 

 

++LS for :B

 

Makruk: Thai Chess

This is the variant of chess which is most played in Thailand, where it has a large number of players.   Pritchard mentions an estimate of two million Thais who at least know the rules of the game, and there are other mentions of millions of players of this game, all from Thailand.  

Links

Rules

The game is played on an uncheckered board of 8 x 8 cells.    The pieces have large similarities to those of the orthodox chess game, and make it from the description easy to play with a normal set of pieces.   I will describe pieces with names of their ‘usual’ chess equivalent.  

Opening setup

The opening setup is very similar to that of orthodox chess, with the following differences: the positions of white KI and QU are reversed, and all PAs are on the third and sixth row.    So, the setup [ISP] is as follows…….  

White:
KI d1; QU e1; RO a1, h1; KT b1, g1; BS c1, f1; PA at a3, b3, c3, d3, e3, f3, g3, h3.  

Black:
KI d8; QU e8; RO a8, h8; KT b8, g8; BS c8, f8; PA at a6, b6, c6, d6, e6, f6, g6, h6.  

Moves

The KI, RO, and KT move as in orthodox chess, except that castling does not exist in this game.

The QU moves one cell diagonally.

The BS moves one cell straight forward or one cell diagonally.

The PA moves as a normal PA, but may not make a double step on its first move [FMO].   When it reaches the sixth row, it promotes to a (Makruk) QU.

Other rules

Object of the game is to mate the opponents KI.   Stalemate [++ST] is a draw.   Also, when a player has no RO, BS, or KT anymore, the other player must mate him/her within a certain number of moves, depending on how many ‘big’ pieces the player has, otherwise the game is declared a draw.   The precise numbers are omitted here.   Also, my sources on this seem to contradict - is there a native player of this game who can provide full information on this topic?  

Additional information

The original names for the pieces are…….  

King: khun - leader.   The Khun was the lowest rank of conferred nobility in the Siamese court system (as opposed to inherited nobility).  

Queen: Met - Pit or fruitstone.   This is the kerner of a fruit, like a cherry.

Bishop: Khon or Thon - Mask.   The same word means a kind of classical Thai royal drama, using such masks. 

Knight: Ma - horse.   

Rook: Rua - boat

Pawn: Bia - cowry shell.   Indeed cowry shells were formerly used for PAs in Thai sets, as well as a unit of very small money.   You can take this as ‘PAs equal small change’.  

In some cases, for PAs cowry shells are used, who are turned over upon promotion.    Similarities of this game, both with Chaturanga or Shatranj, and Shogi are remarkable.   Last century, special first moves for KI and QU were allowed (the KI could make a KT move his first move, and the QU could move two cells diagonally on her first move.)    This practice seems to be no longer in use currently.   For additional information the reader can consult The Encyclopedia of Chess Variants which has two pages on this game, including sample games and Thai notation.  

Written by Hans Bodlaender.   With thanks to Jay Griffith for noting a grammatical error, to John Kewley for informing me about a link, and to Don Walsh for his information on the names of the pieces and their meaning in Thai. 

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