Thai Chess or Makruk Book of Board Game Strategy

Thai chess or Makruk is a variation of chess played in Thailand. Makruk is perhaps more like international chess than the other Asian chess game variants of Shogi (Japanese chess) or Xiangqi (Chinese chess). However, unlike with international chess, there is no castling in Makruk, and the powerful queen and bishop pieces of international chess are replaced with two much less powerful Makruk chess pieces. Gameplay in Makruk is less dramatic and is perhaps more subtle than in international chess, since only the Makruk rook has a wide range of movement; all the other Makruk pieces are local or short-range in movement. The short-range movements of Makruk pieces induce Makruk players to crowd the Makruk board with a defensive structure of pawn chains and defensive short-range pieces; this makes it difficult for either player to find a weak point to break through the opponent’s defense and checkmate the king. Although some conjecture that Makruk, like most chess variations, is a draw with optimal play, there is much interesting chess to play in this game. There are few Thai chess books, or writings on Makruk strategy in English. This English Makruk book gives a comprehensive introduction to the basic and advanced strategies of Thai chess. This English Thai chess book covers:

● Makruk Rules

● The Makruk opening game

● Capturing combinations in Makruk

● Checkmate Problems and Solutions

● The Makruk Middle Game and Endgame