How is xiangqi different from makruk, Thai chess?
These answers restate the rules implemented by our open-source engine, which follows the WXF laws for movement, checkmate and both repetition rulings: a side that forces a repetition by perpetual check or perpetual chase loses rather than drawing. The chase half has not been validated against the official casebook. Where an answer refers to a specific position, that position lives on the linked reference page, where the build verifies it before publishing.
Direct answer
Makruk, Thai chess, is played on the squares of an 8×8 board, like western chess, with slow, short-range pieces: its queen-like piece moves only one step diagonally, and its pawns start on the third rank. Xiangqi is played on the intersections of a 9×10 board with a river, palaces for the generals and cannons. Both are usually placed in the same wider family of chess-like games.
The pieces side by side
- King: makruk's king moves one step in any direction, anywhere on the board. Xiangqi's general moves one point orthogonally and must stay in its palace.
- Queen and advisor: makruk's met moves one step diagonally, like xiangqi's advisor, but without a palace to confine it.
- Bishop and elephant: makruk's khon moves one step diagonally or one step straight forward. Xiangqi's elephant moves two points diagonally and cannot cross the river.
- Knight and horse: makruk's knight jumps like a chess knight and cannot be blocked. Xiangqi's horse can be blocked at its leg.
- Rook and chariot: the same move in both.
- Pawns and soldiers: makruk pawns start on the third rank, move and capture like chess pawns without the double step, and promote to a met on reaching the sixth rank. Xiangqi soldiers capture straight ahead, move sideways after crossing the river and never promote.
Xiangqi also has the cannon, which makruk lacks entirely.
How the games feel
Makruk's short-range pieces make it a slow, manoeuvring game in which pieces close in step by step. Xiangqi's cannons and open lines make tactics appear from the first moves. Both have distinctive endgame rules of their own; makruk is known for its counting rules that limit how long a stronger side has to force mate.
Related questions
Is makruk related to xiangqi?
Both are generally placed among the games related to early Indian chaturanga, but the exact routes are debated. See chaturanga and xiangqi.
Is makruk closer to chess or xiangqi?
In board and piece style it is closer to western chess, played on squares with no river, palace or cannon.
.