Makruk: Thai Chess

Thai Chess, also known as Makruk, is an engaging board game played on an 8x8 grid, similar to classical chess. The initial setup mirrors that of traditional chess with a couple of notable differences: the white queen is positioned on the e1 square, and the white king on the d1 square, with each king to the left of his queen from the player's perspective. Additionally, pawns start on the third rank for white and the sixth rank for black.

The movement of key pieces in Thai Chess is as follows:

• King: Moves one square in any direction—horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, just like in European chess. There is no castling.
• Rook: Can move any number of free squares vertically or horizontally.
• Pawn: Advances one square forward and captures one square diagonally forward, similar to European chess. A pawn can only promote to a queen-analogue upon reaching the sixth rank.

Other pieces have unique moves:

• Queen: Limited to moving one square diagonally.
• Bishop: Can move one square diagonally in any direction or one square forward vertically.
• Knight (Horse): Moves two squares in one direction (vertically or horizontally) and then one square perpendicular to that, identical to the European knight.

Thai Chess can be enjoyed in various modes: against artificial intelligence, with another player on the same device, or online in multiplayer mode.

The objective of the game remains the same as in classical chess—to checkmate the opponent's king. A stalemate results in a draw.

Whether you're a seasoned chess player or new to the game, Thai Chess offers a unique twist on a classic strategy game, providing hours of engaging gameplay.