How to Play Thai Chess or Cambodian Chess - Makruk or Ouk

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  • Опубліковано 18 січ 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 105

  • @AncientChess
    @AncientChess  Рік тому

    Hey my Chess Friends!
    I appear in this new 4-hour film series on the Culture of Chess!
    INFO AND DOWNLOAD AT ideasroadshow.com/chess/
    WATCH THE TRAILER AT ua-cam.com/video/zLnOklDkTGQ/v-deo.html
    DVD FOR PURCHASE ON AMAZON www.amazon.com//dp/B0C13M1B84/

  • @mytube9182
    @mytube9182 3 роки тому +8

    Hello, thanks for detailed explanation for this traditional game of my country !
    You even nailed it when you didn't call the seed as "queen" as most westerners who know Makruk usually do.
    To explain, Thai queens weren't always in the battle field. Most of the time they were protected in the palace, but if they prefer to engage the battles, they'd serve as the army leaders or a general among others, never just assist on the king's side. And because the army leader in Thai ancient battle fields were always battling with halberds on the elephants controlled by a companion soldier. In this case those queens were needed to be well trained on her own volunteer. So basically the seed in Makruk just represents a elephant soldier who assists the army leader. The queens themselves are supposed to be positioned as either the king piece himself or the rook as of a viceroy, the princes, the princesses or the chancellors serving as other generals.

    • @AncientChess
      @AncientChess  3 роки тому +3

      Thanks for this great comment! It's always best to hear perspectives from those familiar with these games in their native lands. Send your thoughts any time

  • @hanzimaster
    @hanzimaster 11 років тому +7

    Additional rule variants:
    1.The Queen can jump to the second square directly forward on its first move.
    2.The King can move as a Knight on its first move.

  • @chanon299
    @chanon299 11 років тому +11

    I'm from Thailand! Makruk and Chess are part of my life!!

    • @burrri
      @burrri 4 роки тому

      is there any makruk tournaments being held? I'd be delighted to know!

    • @mytube9182
      @mytube9182 3 роки тому +2

      @@burrri Hello there. Here in Thailand Makruk is more popular than chess (because it's much easier to master), so there are always Makruk tournaments being held all around Thailand both locally and nationwide.

    • @acsmith1771
      @acsmith1771 3 роки тому

      @@mytube9182 Do you know if Shogi is popular there?

    • @mytube9182
      @mytube9182 3 роки тому +1

      @@acsmith1771 Very unlikely. People play Makruk in majority among chess family. Shoki isn't too much different from Makruk and Chinese chess so people don't feel it much unique or interesting. But Go is well known and played here any way.

    • @acsmith1771
      @acsmith1771 3 роки тому +1

      @@mytube9182 Thanks. I'm a shogi player, but planning to move to Thailand. Guess I'll have to learn Makruk. Already know how to play Chaturanga, and I understand it's similar.
      Or maybe I'll make Shogi popular haha :P

  • @AncientChess
    @AncientChess  11 років тому +4

    Thanks for your message! Please comment any time on these videos -- I'm sure you can tell us a lot about chess in Thailand!

  • @physikarl
    @physikarl 11 років тому +3

    cool. i was in cambodia a few months back, was waiting for a mate, and my tuktuk guy was with some other tuktuk guys, they were playing this, i was like, yeah i love chess, bought them a beer, sat down to play, and what? they changed the rules on me! so pretty good to actually see this vid how to play properly, thanks

  • @AncientChess
    @AncientChess  11 років тому +4

    Thanks for our message. When I was a kid, I got a book from the library, 'board and table games of many civilizations, by RC Bell. Chess was very popular in those days and I became fascinated by all aspects of chess. Many years later, I discovered I could find these chess forms on the internet ... and now I share what I've found...

  • @MADMAC572
    @MADMAC572 13 років тому +2

    I love Thai chess and play it often (since I live in Thailand). I sit on the Mekong as many as four times a week and play Thai Chess. It's just a pleasure. Nice board and pieces he has in this set.

  • @AncientChess
    @AncientChess  12 років тому +1

    I don't have a video of that yet. I'd like to get one up one of these days. It's a very interesting variant! For a while, it was believed that the 4 handed game was the original form of chess, but more recent research shows it to be a later variant.

  • @AncientChess
    @AncientChess  11 років тому +1

    Thanks for the great comment! It's always good to hear from people who have experience in the wider cross-cultural world of chess. Good luck with your future games. (You can put down the gun now) :)

  • @AncientChess
    @AncientChess  12 років тому +3

    Thanks for the question. Are you thinking of the 2-handed version, which is very much like Shatranj, or the 4 handed version with dice, also known as Chaturaji?

  • @callmeandoru2627
    @callmeandoru2627 2 роки тому +1

    I notice that across all historical variations of chess, the rook and the king are the two pieces that almost never change.
    Some exceptions are the castling rule in western chess and the promoted rook in Shogi. But other than that, rooks and kings are the same everywhere.

    • @rickknowlton9990
      @rickknowlton9990 2 роки тому +1

      Yes, it's true. A notable exception is the king in xiangqi and janggi. But it seems that just going along a straight line on the board or going one step any direction are just such obvious moves they must be included. Interestingly, the knight's move is also almost always present, with some limitations in shogi, xiangqi and janggi. But this most-peculiar of moves has lasted through the ages, crossing borders for centuries.

  • @bank2010th
    @bank2010th 13 років тому +1

    @SonjaElen In Thai chess either color can go first. But in the tournament, White usually goes first. Unlike chess in which White ALWAYS goes first.

  • @dineshbali2000
    @dineshbali2000 12 років тому +1

    Rick, the Nobleman has the same move as the Silver General in Shogi.

  • @chanon299
    @chanon299 11 років тому +1

    Definitely I'm glad to. I think for me your websites awesome how did you be interest in all these kinds of chess in the world!

  • @CSGraves
    @CSGraves 12 років тому

    Apparently they alternate moving first in makruk. No fixed "white/black goes first" rule"
    Been playing this game weekly for the past few months with a friend, enjoying it quite a bit. I don't know if it's knocked xiangqi from the position of my fave chess variant, but still quite fun!

  • @leftistadvocate9718
    @leftistadvocate9718 4 роки тому +1

    So the nobleman is a silver general from shogi.

  • @AncientChess
    @AncientChess  11 років тому +1

    Yes, we have much shogi. Check my other videos....
    AncientChess com

  • @monchongburee6858
    @monchongburee6858 9 років тому +1

    malay chess 1king 1minister 2elephen (1or2diagonal) 2knite 2rook and8pawn for each pawn can move capture and promoted same as thai chess pawn

    • @AncientChess
      @AncientChess  9 років тому +1

      +mon chongburee Thanks for this comment. Do I understand that in Malay chess the elephant is allowed to move diagonally either 1 or 2 squares? This is a very unusual move, I have not heard of in other traditional chess games

  • @frankkerr660
    @frankkerr660 2 роки тому

    Where to buy a set like this ?

  • @koalakupcake
    @koalakupcake 12 років тому

    could you please do a video on the rules of chaturanga?

  • @jacmaniac
    @jacmaniac 11 років тому +1

    now I have the motorcycle taxi drivers waiting for me to bring my chess pieces to play mak ruk, it took some time but they warmed up to the idea of using my Chessblocks.

  • @kirbyfan107
    @kirbyfan107 8 років тому +2

    This version of Chess seems very interesting, and I'm considering buying it; but I have a few questions first.
    I perfectly understand the game except for the counting system; I think it's going to take me a while before I can grasp that concept. My question is; is it mandatory that you start counting when you have no pieces left? Or can you play without using the counting system, and just have it so that you either win or lose? I'm not talking about home rules either; do the official rules let you ditch the counting system?

    • @AncientChess
      @AncientChess  8 років тому +1

      Thanks for your message. As far as I can gather, the counting system is a fully active part of the game in all contexts. The best way to get the system is to download my free booklet at ancientchess.com/page/free-downloads.htm (look for the word Makruk... rules). Yes, it seems crazy compared to other chess ending-rules ... but they really mean it!

  • @socailboardtvthai4812
    @socailboardtvthai4812 8 років тому

    I'm Thai thanks for the video of my country

  • @brandonpayton-coons5990
    @brandonpayton-coons5990 5 років тому

    3:07 Shogi Silver General

    • @AncientChess
      @AncientChess  5 років тому +1

      Yes, exactly. This is a very interesting connection between the two games, and seems to suggest chess may have come to Japan more from Southeast Asia, and less from China. The move also exists in Burmese chess. This sort of move was originally recorded in northern India, in the year 1030 AD. It was attributed to the piece called the 'elephant', with one possible move for each foot (the diagonals) and one for the trunk (the forward square).

    • @brandonpayton-coons5990
      @brandonpayton-coons5990 5 років тому +1

      @@AncientChess I am a Christian. Do you know around what time period it was when chess was labeled as evil? I heard that back in the day that some preachers had chess games hidden on bookshelves with folding sets, but idk how to research that.

  • @jnlhansonian
    @jnlhansonian 7 років тому

    Is the nobleman not just the "elephant," moving three squares to the front, which represent the front legs and trunk of the elephant? That was how I remembered "bishop" moves of certain other chess related games.

    • @AncientChess
      @AncientChess  7 років тому

      Yes, it moves one space diagonally or one space directly forward. It shares this move in common with the elephant of Burmese chess (where it is said to represent the elephant's 5 appendages, including trunk). Our earliest report of this move existing is from Al-Biruni, when he traveled through (what is now) northern India, in the early 11th century.

  • @StopFear
    @StopFear 10 років тому +1

    I cannot find any program online that would allow practice vs CPU. Too bad. Looks very interesting.

    • @AncientChess
      @AncientChess  10 років тому +1

      You can play against a computer online at
      jocly.com/#/play/makruk

    • @fmom541
      @fmom541 7 років тому

      Thanks!

    • @tsundoku5733
      @tsundoku5733 7 років тому

      That link does not work anymore. Try www.jocly.com/#/game-dev/makruk instead.

  • @kitebrethren
    @kitebrethren Рік тому

    Damn. The makers of this game really wanted you to know how to checkmate people. Someone must’ve gotten really annoyed that someone was taking 40 moves to do a simple ladder mate.

  • @jeseyraalcantar
    @jeseyraalcantar 11 років тому

    Amazing!

  • @craigemery8422
    @craigemery8422 3 роки тому

    Is the western Queen the most overpowered in all chess variants?

  • @302-09นวินสุขนาน

    chess is like using a gun to fight, but Makruk is like using a shield and a sword.

    • @rickknowlton9990
      @rickknowlton9990 3 роки тому +1

      Thanks, I think that is a good analogy!
      I see your name is in the Thai language. Can I ask you a question about the rules?

  • @chrismusix5669
    @chrismusix5669 8 років тому

    I'm still not 100% sure on how the counting works. I understand when you start counting (no flipped cowries, no more pieces), but when you count, does each player's turn add up? (opponents turn, my turn, each count as one? So in a 'round', we would add 'two' to the count'?) It's still a little vague from the descriptions I've seen. Great form of Chess btw! Probably my all time favorite now.

    • @AncientChess
      @AncientChess  8 років тому +1

      +Chris Musix -- Thanks for the question. It's a little complicated. Did you download the booklet? That would be on the link "Makruk (Thai Chess) Rules" on this page:
      ancientchess.com/page/free-downloads.htm
      To answer your question, you only count your own moves, not those of both players...

    • @chrismusix5669
      @chrismusix5669 8 років тому

      Ahh ok! Thanks for clearing that up.

  • @yusufnorman1741
    @yusufnorman1741 2 роки тому

    How to buy this chess?

    • @rickknowlton9990
      @rickknowlton9990 2 роки тому +1

      Thanks for asking. You will find some possibilities if you search makruk on eBay.
      AWorldofChess.com

  • @AncientChess
    @AncientChess  12 років тому

    yes!

  • @elleashcroft2853
    @elleashcroft2853 5 років тому +1

    There is harder to checkmate on this game, the Queen and Bishop are less powerful than normal chess so far, and the game would be even if can not checkmate within 25 turns after the opponent has only king left

    • @AncientChess
      @AncientChess  5 років тому

      Yes, it really has to be approached differently from 'international' chess. Anatoly Karpov, the former 'international' world champion is fond of this game, and he has said that it is much like 'starting in the endgame.' In this situation, the player must try to tip the balance of the game to arrive into a known winning position. From what I can tell, this often involves being sure the opponent has at least one pawn locked on the board -- so the drawing rules to not take effect, and driving the opposing king over to one side of the board, with a collection of pieces that are known to be capable of forcing mate. There are many Cambodian games online, and I find it fascinating to watch the high level games get played out.

  • @ricardcdmn7996
    @ricardcdmn7996 9 років тому

    Is easy to learn, is like western chess. Is a slow chess with tactics with the rook horse and bishop. I m searching opening in the web, write "opening makruk", or ประเทศไทยเปิดหมากรุก in thai and translate.Game is near an pre ending of western chess, very close. The openings are not deccisive like chess ,only developing pieces and pawn to the center. Practice in web playok makruk. Downloading winboard 4.5 after download engine nebiyu 1.41 or Fairy Max (from H G Muller) and practice with the computer.

  • @angelica-luciahurtado8625
    @angelica-luciahurtado8625 5 років тому

    that's cool

  • @ScissorsProduction
    @ScissorsProduction Рік тому

    helll! im cambodian ,thanks im trying to learn

  • @kahnachin6203
    @kahnachin6203 3 роки тому

    love the paper strips

    • @AncientChess
      @AncientChess  3 роки тому +1

      Old school tech is happening here!

  • @yinengconsultation
    @yinengconsultation 10 років тому

    do u have book that write strategy in playing ?

    • @AncientChess
      @AncientChess  9 років тому

      Thanks for your message. I am sorry to say I do not know of any good books on the strategy of this game. If you hear of anything good in English, please let me know!

  • @AncientChess
    @AncientChess  4 роки тому

    Let me know if you have any questions ... :)

  • @gabriellecrawford9856
    @gabriellecrawford9856 4 роки тому

    What is the difference between Makruk and Ouk? Yes, one is Thai and one is Cambodian, but is there more to it than that? Are any rules different?

    • @AncientChess
      @AncientChess  4 роки тому

      Good question. I think they are basically the same. I know that in Cambodian ouk, there is a special rule that the 'queen' can move 2 spaces straight forward on its first move, and the king can move like a knight on his first move ... but I don't think those special moves are practiced in Thai makruk -- BUT, I'm not really sure. Basically the same game though

    • @gabriellecrawford9856
      @gabriellecrawford9856 4 роки тому

      @@AncientChess I think it has to do with setup, where in makruk, the pawns are positioned a row ahead.

  • @AncientChess
    @AncientChess  11 років тому +4

    All ass kicking within the family should be done over the chessboard. Good luck.

  • @aaronjacobamadorsalazar1934
    @aaronjacobamadorsalazar1934 6 років тому

    The Noblemen moves like the Silver Generals in Shogi

    • @drazini
      @drazini 6 років тому +1

      Yes -- a very intriguing connection! There is some speculation that makruk could have come to Japan through the merchant sailing routes, and in Japan transformed (or modified another ancient tradition) into shogi. The position of the pawns and promotion process are also very similar.

    • @aaronjacobamadorsalazar1934
      @aaronjacobamadorsalazar1934 6 років тому +1

      Alaya Drazini but the size of the board, the King being centralized, and the movement of the pieces...
      What else, Shogi has came from Small Shogi, Medium Shogi, and Great Shogi.
      I think it's inverted. What if Shogi came to Thailand instead?

    • @maxmakruk8714
      @maxmakruk8714 6 років тому +1

      Aaron Jacob Amador Salazar ..shogi..combination of xiangqi(starting position) chess(bishop) and makruk(silver general)

  • @garyfleming8269
    @garyfleming8269 4 роки тому

    Also, if you don't want to download the instructions, I can be the instructOR.

    • @AncientChess
      @AncientChess  4 роки тому

      How do you mean? Are you making videos too?
      My instruction manuals are at www.ancientchess.com/page/free-downloads.htm

  • @mysteryhombre81
    @mysteryhombre81 3 роки тому

    Find it funnny how ancient chess is the name, but makruk is literally the same age, if not younger than chess. Chess is an old game man, and they all descend from chaturanga.

    • @AncientChess
      @AncientChess  3 роки тому

      THanks for your message. I'm not sure what you're getting at, but the best full description of the evidence for chess in its various forms world wide is in our book, see aworldofchess.com (there's a video there as well).
      Carvings from Angkor Wat, dated to the 12th century, show people playing a game that looks very much like the modern Cambodian chess. The type of chess we play, with the wild queen and long-range bishop started right around 1475. The oldest manuscript, authenticated with a very strong description of chess is from Persia circa AD 600. Those our the bullet points for this comment. The full story is in 400 pages of seriously researched text, with 400 illustrations. AWorldofChess.com

    • @mysteryhombre81
      @mysteryhombre81 3 роки тому

      @@AncientChess From my preliminary studies, I thought that, minus the active queen and bishop, chess was Introduced to Europe - around the same time as it spread to southeast Asia - by the Moors in Spain. All very facisnating stuff though, where can I buy your book, would like to read more about it.

  • @kyalvidigi1398
    @kyalvidigi1398 4 роки тому

    Queen should only move 1 space diagonally. I still wonder why in chess it has the most strongest moves, as if in real life it can actually fight in battles.

    • @rickknowlton9990
      @rickknowlton9990 4 роки тому +1

      Thanks for the good comment. Yes, it is strange. When chess came to Europe, the pieces had abstract shapes and the Europeans didn't necessarily know what the shapes represented, so they gave them new identities. The companion of the King was thought to be the Queen -- and it still had the simple one-step diagonal move. Centuries later, around 1475, the idea of giving the Queen a super-power move was invented in Valencia, Spain ... and that idea became very popular all over Europe. It was called 'chess of the mad queen' ... and then just became the regular European chess.

  • @chanon299
    @chanon299 11 років тому +2

    That's great! I've never thought that one day I would see a white man teaching how to play Makruk LoL

    • @gabriellecrawford9856
      @gabriellecrawford9856 4 роки тому +1

      I should be the second, because as Weird Al would say, I'm white and nerdy! 🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓

    • @chanon299
      @chanon299 4 роки тому

      @@gabriellecrawford9856 Nice!

  • @ghostyuxdivity4220
    @ghostyuxdivity4220 6 років тому +1

    The original is in India. And developed into this Not from Cambodia.

    • @rickknowlton9990
      @rickknowlton9990 6 років тому

      This game probably comes to Cambodia from Northern India, around the 11th or 12th century, though it has taken on some new characteristics typical of other Southeast Asian variants.
      There is much more to know about this, which can be learned from our book at www.aworldofchess.com.
      Also, please see my video on Southeast Asian chess varaints: ua-cam.com/video/-bc8tQsKuG8/v-deo.html

    • @HandsomeMonkey-King
      @HandsomeMonkey-King 6 років тому

      @@rickknowlton9990 Historically speaking Indic civilization spread from the Ganga basin down to Dravidia and then to Indonesia and then to Cambodia.
      It could either originate from the Dvaravati or the Angkorian civilization

    • @AncientChess
      @AncientChess  6 років тому

      @@HandsomeMonkey-King No one can honestly say where chess first came from ... we can only say what evidence has been uncovered, and try to draw our best conclusions. Although the Indic culture has been widespread throughout the centuries, most researchers find the greatest likelihood of chess's origin to be in the northern areas; that is, northern India or somewhere along the Silk Road.

    • @AncientChess
      @AncientChess  6 років тому

      I really need you guys to pay more attention to what is being said in my videos, and what is and isn't shown in the historical evidence. "Chess is from India" "Chess is from China" "Chess is from Persia" "Chess is from Mars" ... these assertions are equally meaningless without sensible review of dependable evidence.

  • @AncientChess
    @AncientChess  4 роки тому

    Traditional Cambodian sets are here www.ebay.com/sch/m.html?_ssn=rickofricks&LH_PrefLoc=&_from=R40&_trksid=p2499338.m570.l1313&_nkw=cambodian&_sacat=0

  • @bsheepdestroyermakesstuff7222
    @bsheepdestroyermakesstuff7222 4 роки тому +2

    why is jesus telling us how to play an ancient version of chess

    • @AncientChess
      @AncientChess  4 роки тому +1

      Oh verily I say unto you blessed are the chess players for they shall find wondrous mental activity. Halleluiah, Amen, Zippity Doo Da Day!

  • @Chick0nHead
    @Chick0nHead 12 років тому

    SHOGI SHOGI SHOGI !! :)

  • @Jakarin-yq4qy
    @Jakarin-yq4qy 5 років тому

    I can play i thai

  • @麟麒-t3h
    @麟麒-t3h 10 років тому

    Where is Malay Chess

    • @AncientChess
      @AncientChess  10 років тому +1

      Good question. Do you know something about the chess of Malay?

  • @theophonchana5025
    @theophonchana5025 4 роки тому

    หมากรุกไทย

  • @theophonchana5025
    @theophonchana5025 4 роки тому

    หมากรุก

    • @rickknowlton9990
      @rickknowlton9990 4 роки тому

      Thanks! Theo just gave us the name for this chess, makruk, as it is written in Thai script

  • @monifiya1228
    @monifiya1228 10 років тому +2

    នេះជា​អុកកម្ពុជា
    It's Cambodia chess!

  • @lovivi9524
    @lovivi9524 6 років тому

    Thai chess is copy from khmer

    • @AncientChess
      @AncientChess  6 років тому +1

      Thai chess and Khmer chess are basically the same chess tradition. The pieces are stylized a little differently. Do you have historical information about how one came from the other?