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I couldn't explain it better then myself.
I notice that the game's name contains the Knight's name Ma with a K added, followed by the Rook's name Rua with the a replaced by a K. The second half even sounds like Rook! Is this more than coincidence?
The drawing rule (counts) is very complex. Apparently this arise from gambling or playing practices to ensure some chances for the losing side. Here is the rules: (the Official Rules of the Thailand Chess Federation) There are 2 modes of counting: (depending on the state of the losing side) (1). If the losing side has one or more pieces left (besides the King):- Prerequisites: 1A No unpromoted pawns (both sides') on board. 1B The losing side has a clear disadvantage, basically only in endgame positions, ie. few pieces left. *This is where the rule is still somewhat unclear > up to referee to judge* but generally it is common sense like R vs N, 2R vs R+N, etc. Procedure: The losing player start counting his own move from 1 to 64 if he can makes the 65th move, it's draw. Note: If in the course of counting, the losing side lose all other pieces, then he can start counting according to rule (2). You will notice that the count here is to 64, this rule section is called 'The Board's Honour Rule', refering to the fact that the losing side has made 64 moves = number of squares on board. (2). If the losing side has a lone King:- ('The Pieces' Honour Rule') Prerequisites: 2A No unpromoted pawns (both sides') on board. 2B The losing side has only a king Procedure: The losing player start counting his own move start from 1+ the total number of all pieces left on the board (incl. kings) to the specified number (below) if he can makes 1 more move after the specified number without checkmate, it's draw. (in other words, The wining side has one more move to checkmate) The Pieces' Honours: in this exact order (regardless of any other pieces left): 2 Rooks = 8 1 Rook = 16 2 Bishop = 22 2 knights = 32 1 Bishop = 44 Others = 64 Examples: K+2R+N vs K count = 8 start from 6 K +1R+2N+2B vs K count = 16 start from 8 K+ 2B+2N+5Q vs K count = 22 start from 12 K+ 2N+1B+1Q vs K count = 32 start from 7 K+ 1B+1N+3Q vs K count = 44 start from 8 K+ 1N+ 2Q vs K count = 64 start from 6 K+ 3Q vs K count = 64 start from 6 K + 2R +1N+1B+2Q vs K count = 8 start from 9 (auto draw!) Note: If in the course of counting, the wining side lose some pieces, the count continues, no change!. You will notice that the Bishop is more powerful in checkmating than Knight. 'The Pieces' Honours' refers to the number of pieces left and the power of them.
Just to reaffirm that I am Thai and am 100% certain of the rules.... With regard to the name 'MAK' = board game 'ROOK' = attack The spellin is coincidental... Also, 'KHUN' means the chief, head, principal etc. It is used to refer to the king but to use the actual word 'king' as a playing piece was against Thai culture. As for 'KHON' (pronounced like Cone) it is definitely NOT the form of drama (different pronuciation & spelling in Thai) but nobody know the origin. Some authorities suggested it derived from 'KON' (short-vowel) meaning human.
One last interesting bits: 'Last century, special first moves for king and queen were allowed (the king could make a knight move his first move, and the queen could move two squares diagonally on her first move.) This practice seems to be no longer in use currently' The reason is that in the opening, the kings were almost always played to b2 and g7 (like Castling) The Left Bishop usually to c2 and f7. Same with the Queen to e3 and d6 Or rarely c3 and f6..... So they just sfe time. Nowadays, the serious games forbid these, but on the street and countryside, they still make these 'Formula moves' (that's what the 2 rules are called). Thai Chess gained much popularity in the 1990s, with 5-7 televised national events /year, but after lots of published analysis, the knowledge of Thai Chess techniques + strategies seem to have reached the peak. Sadly, almost all serious games between similar-level pros are draws. Now, they have to invent tie-break games call 'MAKPONG' (Defensive Chess) wherein the player who checks the opponent's king such that he has to MOVE the king wins. BAD IDEA!!! On the brighter side, Thai Chess is still the second- most popular board game in Thailand (after Thai Checkers) and gaining popularity among general players, esp. in countryside, who just play to enjoy. One reason is, interetingly, cheaper plastic sets and more modern-trade distribution channels (like Tesco Lotus, and c-stores) ... Hope it was useful info. poompat@yahoo.com, poompat@hotmail.com
Much thanks to Poompat for the details on the ending of the game! All the sources I'd found to this point were missing, ambiguous or otherwise incomplete. Now I've got to go do some studying!
Here's another question, for someone who knows what Makruk is like in Thailand: According to Murray's History of Chess, the pawn, called 'bia,' is traditionally a cowrie (or cowry) shell. Are cowrie shells still used today in Thailand? Or is it preferable to have the little disk-like objects which are manufactured like the rest of the set?
Nice to be able to share information ! 'the pawn, called 'bia,' is traditionally a cowrie (or cowry) shell. Are cowrie shells still used today in Thailand' is correct... Bia was the small changes like coins at that time, as compared to 'gold nuggets' that were like currency notes... But I do not know what they used for other big pieces then... Nowadays, everybody use plastic sets... and may be soda bottles' caps in place of lost pawns... cowrie shells, as a form of money before coins, are now rare collectible items of much values... even the boards are now plastic or 'imitation wood made from pressed-papers' although some people still have hand-carved wood sets and boards (also very rare and collectible-items because nobody makes them anymore > no buyers)
Thanks to Poompat for the etymological info. So the second syllable means 'attack'? Well that makes the coincidence an even bigger one, as the Rook is the most powerful piece in the Asian games! It sounds like this game may develop further. A variant with the Met moving as a Goldgeneral - Makruk with a touch of Shogi, as it were - might be interesting.
I had not thought of the idea of a variant with a met having the move of the gold from shogi, as Mr. Gilman suggests, but my son compiled a ZRF for makruk-gi. The game was surprisingly more playable than chessgi. As to wooden sets, I wonder if Poompat knows a way to contact the Thai Department of Corrections who list a board and pieces on their website: http://www.thaicorrect.moi.go.th/sst93.html. I have tried writing to the site coordinator (although in English) and had no success. I have seen that there are books and websites in Thai on various aspects of play -- I found some endgame exercises with diagrammatic solutions very easy to read and quite instructive. I wish that there were more instructive literature available to English readers. Some of those endgames with a couple of mets look very complex.
Does anyone know from which year the first written source mentions makruk? Does anyone know which is the oldest makruk piece or set found? Is there any other source to how old the game is?
Jean-Louis Cazaux has a page on 'Ouk Chatrang, the Cambodian Chess
and Makruk, the Thai Chess' on his web site. Cazaux has a personalid page here, giving the current address of his web site.
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