Comments on: Makruk ( Thai Chess )

By: vs

vs — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 00:42:54 +0000

Talen, I have seen Thai’s playing board games but never really taken any notice. I used to play chess when I was younger but got seriously into basketball and that was the end of chess.

By: BKK News Feed Archive Q4/09/II

BKK News Feed Archive Q4/09/II — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 14:28:57 +0000

[...] NATION Obituary: Top Thai Businesswoman Murdered THAILAND LAND OF SMILES – Maruk, Thai Chess BANGKOK POST – Open Your Eyes to the Real Samak ANDREW DRUMMOND – The Clockwork Orange [...]

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:43:39 +0000

I’ve never been to Thailand but I think makruk is ace. The lack of long range diagonal pieces like bishops and queens suit my style a lot more as I’m less likely to be taken by surprise by bishops coming from nowhere and game is a lot more tactical. The khon is a fantastic piece to play with and makes makruk much more interesting than the similar shatranj (the direct forerunner of modern chess) which has an awkward elephant instead.

That said, I’ve only played correspondence makruk (on a site called SchemingMind). It’s interesting there as none of the makruk players there are Thai, we only really have the rules to work off, and none of the theory. I understand there is a lot of theory and literature about makruk, if you can read Thai.
.-= Tom´s last blog ..Best songs of the rock and roll era (Belgium ; 1) =-.

By: Catherine

Catherine — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 09:55:39 +0000

I often take a camera when I’m out and about.

And it has taken me awhile, but my taxi driver now stops for photos on a dime.

If he hears a sharp intake of breath from me, he slams on the brakes. I didn’t ask for this either, he just does it.

It is fairly effective as his maneuvering skills are honed, but we have yet to pass by chess players since he perfected this move.
.-= Catherine´s last blog ..Jai Words: Learn Thai with More Words of the Heart =-.

By: Talen

Talen — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 09:49:16 +0000

Cat, for some reason I never have my camera with me when I pass a game of Thai chess…or checkers for that matter. Most of the checkers games I’ve seen use bottle caps like we did when we were kids.

By: Talen

Talen — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 09:48:00 +0000

Mike, The rules aren’t so bad until you get to the counting part. You can always play checkers too on the same board…very easy and not so many rules.

By: Talen

Talen — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 09:46:37 +0000

Martyn, I’ve seen similar boards to the one I have in the post for around 6-800 baht. The nicer ones are like the old chess sets with the box beneath the board for chess pieces and checker pieces.

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 08:41:11 +0000

Talen what an interesting post. Funnily enough I have not seen it played here but I am sure it is.

I quite like chess, but I fancy the rules for Makruk are a little difficult to remember.

Thanks for sharing this one, now I need to keep my eyes open.
.-= Mike´s last blog ..Soi Chicken =-.

By: Martyn

Martyn — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 08:17:16 +0000

Talen I have seen Thai’s playing board games but never really taken any notice. I used to play chess when I was younger but got seriously into football and that was the end of chess.

There are a couple of stalls at the big Nong Khai market I visit that sell games and I’m going to check them out. If I see the Makruk game on display then I’ll buy it no shadow of doubt.

Any idea on the cost because I really like the look of the one in your photos but it does appear well carved and perhaps a little pricey. I’ll definitely by the board game on my Christmas trip and my grey matter is gonna give the young one and her uncles one hell of a beating…perhaps.
.-= Martyn´s last blog ..Thailand At Work – Streetwalkers and Roadworkers =-.

By: Catherine

Catherine — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 01:00:32 +0000

Talen, I do like chess so I might give it a go one of these days.

And I am forever driving past men gathered around a board, kicking myself for not seeing them in time.

I am not flustered about losing the chance for a game of chess, but for the lost photo opportunity.

(In Thailand, if I backtrack for every photo situation, I’d never get anywhere… so in the hopes of seeing something equally important further ahead, I generally keep on going)
.-= Catherine´s last blog ..Jai Words: Learn Thai with More Words of the Heart =-.