Makhos (Thai Checkers-หมากฮอส)

Makhos is known outside of Thailand as Thai Checkers or Thai Draughts. It is the most popular boardgame in Thailand besides Makruk (Thai Chess).

The board is an 8×8 grid, each player starts with 8 pieces on the two rows closest to their own side, as shown in the diagram above. It appears that there is no fixed rule which color start.

Rules

--------

Men :

Uncrowned pieces (men) move one step diagonally forward, and capture an opponent’s piece by moving two consecutive steps in the same line, jumping over the piece on the first step. Multiple opposing pieces may be captured in a single turn provided this is done by successive jumps made by a single piece; the jumps do not need to be in the same line but may “zigzag” (change diagonal direction). Men can move and capture only forward.

King :

When a man reaches the crownhead or kings row (the farthest row forward), it becomes a king, and is marked by placing an additional piece on top of the first man, and acquires additional powers including the ability to move backwards and capture backwards.

Kings (sometimes called flying kings) move any distance along unblocked diagonals, and may capture an opposing man any distance away by jumping and stop on the field directly behind the piece captured and must go on capturing from there, if possible, even in the direction where they have come from.