CHESMAYNE
Burmese
links:
Burmese chess
Burmese
chess Burmese traditional chess
One of the unusual features of Burmese chess is that the mps promote on different cells to the western 8 x 8
chessboard. In the diagram below the purple cells indicate the cells on which the mps [Burmese
Pawns = PBs) are promoted/enrobed/queened – highly unusual! In ‘western chess’ the pawns [PAs] are promoted on ranks-1 and 8 instead. The diagram below shows the Initial Starting
Position (ISP) of the MPs/mps for Burmese Chess. Other starting positions (ISPs) are also
allowed – see below! The monograms for the chess pieces used
are King, Rook, Knight, Elephant, Adviser and Burmese Pawn - KI, RO,
KT, EL, AD and PB.
The above
diagram was produced using the ‘Zillions’ program The Zillions Index
Monogram, Name and Number of the MPs/mps
used in Burmese chess.
1 KI = King.
1 AD = Adviser. AD1.
2 RO = Rook. RO1 and
RO2. Carriages.
2 KT = Knight. KT1 and
KT2. Horses.
2 ET = Elephant. ET1
and ET2.
8 PB = Pawn Burmese. PB1 to PB8.
Soldiers.
There are a total of 16 MPs/mps per side in
Burmese chess (32 in total).
The
above diagram was produced using the ‘Zillions’ program The Zillions Index
Below: ISP-01
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RO2 |
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RO1 |
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8 |
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KI |
KT2 |
ET1 |
KT1 |
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7 |
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ET2 |
AD1 |
PB4 |
PB3 |
PB2 |
PB1 |
6 |
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PB8 |
PB7 |
PB6 |
PB5 |
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5 |
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PB5 |
PB6 |
PB7 |
PB8 |
4 |
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PB1 |
PB2 |
PB3 |
PB4 |
AD1 |
KT2 |
ET2 |
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3 |
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ET1 |
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KT1 |
KI |
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2 |
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RO1 |
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RO2 |
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1 |
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A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
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Pawn Burmese
Monogram: Pawn Burmese (PB) PB1,
PB2, PB3 etc.
First Move Option: (FMO): 1 cell diagonally forward.
All Other Moves: (AOM): 1 cell diagonally
forward.
Capture: (*): 1 cell diagonally forward.
Promotable: (#): Yes (only to AD, see below).
Special Move: See promotion rules below.
01 Also known as ‘Sittuyin.’
02 Differing ISPs are permitted (eight ISPs are listed below).
03 A good book on Burmese Chess is ‘Burmese Chess Guide’ (‘Myan-ma
sit bayin lan-nyunt sa-ok gyi’) by Shwei-gyin U Bha.
04 Burmese Chess has died out in
Above: Burmese Flag
05 Traditional Burmese MPs/mps are made of wood. :A are coloured red.
:B are coloured black.
06 The playing area (traditional
board) is an 8 x 8 unchequered board.
07 There are a total of 32
MPs/mps (each player has 8 MPs and 8 mps).
08 The KI, ROs (RO1 and RO2),
KTs (KT1 and KT2) are the exact same as used in traditional western
chess. There are a lack of Vector
MPs (BSs and QU - long-range).
09 AD1 (Adviser) moves one cell diagonally forward or
back.
10 Two Elephants. ET1 and ET2 move one cell diagonally or, can move one cell
forward (changing from the XL to the XD cells in the process). Note: to account for the slight difference
in the moving ability of ET1, ET2 (used in Burmese chess) and EL1, EL2 (used in
Shatranj) a different monogram is used. Both types of MP are Elephants.
11 Each side has 8 mps.
Pawn-Burmese: PB1, PB2, PB3, PB4, PB5, PB6, PB7 and
PB8.
12 A PB does not have the option of moving two cells on
the ‘initial first move’ (FMO).
13 A PB captures just like a PA. The :ep
(en passant) move is not available.
14 A PB is promoted when standing on any of the long diagonals in your opponent’s half of the board ie, file 5, 6, 7 or 8 for :A
. For :A these cells are $A08, $B07, $C06,
$D05 on the left-side of the board (QUs-side). For
:A $E05, $F06, $G07, $H08 on the right-side of the board (KIs-side). In the diagrams above the purple cells [or,
sharp symbol, # ] indicates these promotion cells. Promotion cells used in Burmese Chess (XP cells = Purple).
15 A PB can only be promoted to an AD (AD2, AD3 etc). However, this is only permitted if AD1 has
already been captured.
16 Promotion does not come into
effect immediately, but on a player’s next move (the following move). The promotion can come into effect on the
cell on which the PB is placed as mentioned above ie, without moving. It can also come into effect by moving one
cell diagonally. This diagonal move
cannot capture your opponents (AD1) in the process of the move. This diagonal move cannot also give +CH.
17 A PB that moves beyond its promotion cell cannot be
promoted.
18 The ISP of the PBs is shown in the
diagram below. All games of Burmese chess commence
by placing the mps in this manner. How to place the PBs on the Burmese Chess
board (ISP):
Below: ISP-01
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8 |
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7 |
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PB4 |
PB3 |
PB2 |
PB1 |
6 |
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PB8 |
PB7 |
PB6 |
PB5 |
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5 |
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PB5 |
PB6 |
PB7 |
PB8 |
4 |
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PB1 |
PB2 |
PB3 |
PB4 |
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3 |
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2 |
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1 |
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A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
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19 :A and :B now input their MPs anywhere behind the PBs (alternately). The MPs are placed (one at a time) by :A
and :B. :A inputs
first.
20 You are allowed to replace
(swap) a mp with a MP. The mp is then
re-placed on an unoccupied cell in your own half of the board. There are a few restrictions to this rule
ie, B-RO1 or B-RO2 cannot be placed on the same file as A-KI. :B cannot place RO1 and RO2 on the same
file if :A finds this objectionable.
21 The objective of the game is
to checkmate the opposing KI.
22 The red side (:A) commences
the game.
23 +CH must be verbally announced.
24 Stalemate [++ST] is not permitted. You must allow the other side to make a
move.
25 Perpetual check (+PC) is possible in Burmese
chess.
26 A draw by repetition of position is possible.
27 The endgame has some rules peculiar to Burmese chess
(see below).
28 KI and RO must checkmate a lone KI in 16 moves or the contest
is a draw.
29 If the bare KI is in any of the four cells
of each corner of the board or on one of the central cells (B$A) which is referred to as ‘the 4 cells
of the death of the KI’, this is referred to as ‘5 moves in 4 cells’ and the counting of the
moves does not begin until the defender’s 5th move has been
completed.
30 T