Setup
The same 8×8 arrangement as Makruk: White's king on d1 and neang on e1, Black's neang on d8 and king on e8, koul on c1/f1 and c8/f8, and pawns on the third ranks. The king and neang keep their special first-move rights. White moves first.
Ouk Chatrang
Ouk Chatrang, the chess of Cambodia, adds special first moves for the king and neang to a Makruk-style army.
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Moves and captures
King, rook and knight use chess moves. The koul steps one square diagonally or straight forward; the neang steps one square diagonally. Pawns move one square forward, capture diagonally and become a neang on their sixth rank.
Winning and draws
Checkmate wins. Stalemate is a draw, and there is no 50-move rule. Board count: as soon as a side has three pieces or fewer (king included), even with pawns on the board, its opponent must checkmate by count 64, counting from 1. Bare-king count, once no unpromoted pawns remain and one side has only its king: counting starts from the number of pieces on the board plus one, and the attacker must mate by count 8 with two rooks, 16 with one rook, 22 with two koul, 32 with two knights, 44 with one koul, or 64 otherwise. If the count runs out, the game is drawn. A player may claim a draw on threefold repetition; a position where neither side can checkmate is drawn automatically.
Special rules
On its first move, if not in check, the king may jump like a knight onto the next rank, two files to either side (b2 or f2 for White, c7 or g7 for Black), without capturing. It loses this right once it has moved or once an enemy rook moves to attack it. On its first move, the neang may jump two squares straight ahead to an empty square. There is no castling or pawn double step.
Read the full guide
Board setup, special rules and winning conditions for Ouk Chatrang.
The met's initial two-square jump is a special right; after moving it only steps one square diagonally.
A quick guide to Ouk Chatrang
Read the Ouk Chatrang rulesWhat is Ouk Chatrang?
Ouk Chatrang is the traditional chess of Cambodia, a close relative of Thai Makruk played on an 8×8 board. Pawns start on the third rank and promote to met on the sixth. On their first move, the king may make a forward knight jump and the met may jump two squares straight ahead. Checkmate wins, and endgame counting can force a draw.
How is Ouk Chatrang different from Makruk?
The board, setup and piece moves are the same, but on its first move the king may jump like a knight to b2 or f2 (c7 or g7 for Black), and the neang may jump two squares straight ahead. Counting also starts earlier, as soon as a side has three pieces or fewer.
When can the king make its knight jump in Ouk Chatrang?
Only as the king's first move, when it is not in check and without capturing: to b2 or f2 for White, c7 or g7 for Black. The right is lost once the king has moved, or once an enemy rook moves to attack it.
Why can't my neang jump two squares at the start of Ouk Chatrang?
The neang's two-square jump needs an empty target square, and at the start your own pawn stands there: on e3 for White, d6 for Black. Move that pawn first. The neang keeps its jump right until it makes its first move.
How can I play with a friend?
Share one device for a local game, or choose the friend option above to create an online room and send its invitation. Online games need an internet connection. Local games are saved in this browser.
Play Ouk Chatrang on one deviceWhich rules apply here?
Ouk Chatrang. Read the setup, legal moves, special rules and end conditions before starting. The guide describes the variant used on ChessPlayX, including differences from other versions where relevant.
Read the Ouk Chatrang rulesCan I play against AI?
Choose AI mode to practice at your own pace. Start with a lower difficulty while learning the moves, then increase it when you can spot threats and plan your replies.