Free Online Makruk
Start with a Game
You do not need a rulebook to start playing Makruk. Choose an AI level, make your first move, and see how the position develops. When the game ends, start another and test the idea you just had. No account required.
What You Are Playing For
The game is played on an 8×8 board. White moves first, and the aim is to checkmate the other side's khun, or king. Rua control open lines and ma move like knights, but met and khon are short-range pieces. That makes pawn clashes, exchanges, and king safety matter early.
You do not need every piece name before your first game. Watch for pawns meeting in the middle, a rua getting an open line, and your khun running out of safe squares. Afterwards, use the move list to trace an exchange back. Promotion, stalemate, and draw rules land more easily once you have seen them in a game.
Watch the Third Rank
Bia start on the third rank, so the sides meet within a few moves. A met cannot dominate the whole board, while a khon is useful for holding squares near the khun. One opening detail is worth noticing: White's khun starts on d1 and the met on e1; Black's khun starts on e8 and the met on d8.
Promotion Comes Early
A bia promotes to a met on the sixth rank, not the last. An extra short-range piece can tighten the net around the opposing khun. Rua control open lines, so opening one too early can expose your own king. Ma can jump a crowded pawn line to trade for a key khon or met.
Review the Turning Point
Choose from four AI strengths and play as White or Black. Use a hint when you get stuck, or undo a move you want to rethink. When the game ends, review whether you promoted too early and which move gave the other side's rua an open line. Analysis and move lists stay in your browser.
8×8board
16pieces per side
6th rankbia promote to met
Matetrap the opposing khun
FAQ
How is Makruk different from chess?
Same 8×8 board, same goal: checkmate the enemy king, called the khun here. The big difference is that there is no queen sweeping the board. The met steps one square diagonally, the khon moves one square diagonally or one straight ahead, and pawns start on the third rank. There is no castling and no double pawn step, so games build slowly around pawn chains and piece coordination rather than one sharp blow.
Where do pawns promote, and can they become anything else?
A pawn promotes when it reaches your sixth rank, three rows short of the far edge, and it can only become a met. No rua, no ma. That means you rarely need to race a pawn all the way down the board. The new met is slow, but it is very good at closing off the squares around the enemy khun.
How are draws decided? Do you use the traditional counting rules?
No. A game here is drawn by stalemate, insufficient mating material, fifty moves without a capture or pawn move, or the same position repeating. The endgame counting rules Thai players often use are not built in. If you want to practise them, agree on a count with a friend and play it out in two-player mode.
How strong is the AI? Will I just lose every game as a beginner?
There are multiple AI levels, and the lowest one searches shallowly, so it is a fair sparring partner when you are still learning how the pieces move. Once you start winning easily, move up a level. Everything runs in your own browser, so on a slower phone the top levels may take a few seconds to reply.
Can I play Black? What happens to my game if I switch sides?
Yes. Switch to Black in the side panel and the AI will open as White. Switching sides starts a fresh game rather than carrying the current one over. Your White and Black games are saved separately on this device, so switching back picks up where you left off.
Is the hint the AI's best possible move?
No. The hint uses the same level you are playing against, so treat it as a second opinion, not the answer key. It works best if you pick your own move first, then check the hint. When the two disagree, ask how the opponent's rua and ma would answer each one.
Is there a limit on undo?
Not against the AI. You can step all the way back to the opening. Each undo takes back the AI's reply along with your move, so it is your turn again. The button is unavailable while the AI is thinking; wait for it to move, then undo.
How do I find the move that lost the game?
Open the move list and replay from the start, or click any move to jump straight to it. Look for two things: the move that handed the opponent's rua an open file, and whether you promoted too early and left your pawn line thin. Once you find it, step back, try something else, and play it out against the AI again.
Do I need an account or an app?
Neither. Open the page and start playing on your phone or computer, with no account, email, or password. If you would like a one-tap shortcut, you can add the site to your home screen, but that is optional and you can finish a game without it.
Can I play with a friend?
Yes, in two ways. If you are sitting together, use two-player mode and take turns on one device, no connection needed. If you are apart, open an online room and send your friend the link. Online games have no hints and no one-sided undo, because every move is synced to both players.
