page_title: Makruk
section_title: Pieces
hierarchical_section_title: Makruk / Rules / Pieces
caption_attribution_description: English: Makruk Thai 4 ไทย: ชุดหมากรุกไทยสมัยรัตนโกสินทร์ตอนต้น ที่ตัวหมากรุกทำจากเขาควายเผือก และเขาควายดำ
context_page_description: Makruk, or Thai chess, is a board game that descended from the 6th-century Indian game of chaturanga or a close relative thereof, and therefore related to chess. It is regarded as a chess variant. The word "ruk" in Thai is thought to derive from "rukh" which means "chariot" in the Persian language. The Persian traders came to the Ayutthaya kingdom around the 14th century to spread their culture and to trade with the Thai kingdom. It is therefore possible that the Siamese Makruk, in its present form, was directly derived from the Persian game of Shatranj via the cultural exchange between the two people in this period. This is because the movement of Makruk Thai's queen, or the "seed", is essentially the same as Ferz in Shatranj.
context_section_description: The pawn (called เบี้ย bia, a cowrie shell, formerly used as money) moves and captures like a pawn in western chess, but cannot move two steps on the first move and, therefore, cannot be captured en passant.  A pawn that reaches the sixth rank is always promoted (bia-ngai) by flipping it over, and then it moves like a queen (met).
  The queen (called เม็ด met, seed), arguably the weakest piece, moves one step in any diagonal direction, like the ferz in shatranj, or a cat sword in dai shogi.
  The bishop (called โคน khon, nobleman). moves one step in any diagonal direction or one step forward, like the silver general in shogi.
  The knight (called ม้า ma, horse) moves like a knight in western chess: two steps in one direction and then one step perpendicular to that movement. It jumps over any pieces in the way.
  The rook (called เรือ ruea, boat) moves like a rook in western chess: any number of steps horizontally or vertically.
  The king (called ขุน khun, meaning either a feudal lord or a title-holder of the lowest ranks in the ancient Thai nobility) moves like a king in western chess - one step in any direction. The game ends when the king is checkmated.  Unlike shatranj, the game ends as a draw if the king is stalemated.
  In starting position, pawns are placed on the third and sixth ranks. Queens are placed at the right side of kings. Pawns promote to (เบี้ยหงาย bia ngai, overturned cowrie shells, and move like queens when they reach the sixth rank.
caption: Makruk Thai from early Rattanakosin era with pieces made from albino and black water buffalos' horn
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