The official rules of Asean Chess are like standard chess except that (1) the bishop moves one step diagonally in all directions, or one step forwards and (2) the queen moves only one step diagonally. Pawns promote to any piece (except king) on the eight rank. Stalemate is draw.
The Laws of Asean Chess were adopted at the ASEAN-Chess Council at Bangkok, Thailand on March 14, 2011. The variant is a combination of Thai/Cambodian Chess and Western Chess. I have suggested an alternative variant where the King cannot move away from check. So one must go between or the piece must be captured, or else it’s checkmate. This faster variant is inspired from Makpong, a variant of Thai Chess (Makruk).
In the beginning the bishop is clearly weaker than a knight, but can in later situations be more valuable than a knight. It is slow; but it is a good defensive piece and also suitable for giving mate.
The queen moves only one step on the diagonals.
A game from the 30th Sea Games (Asean Chess) 2019 (YouTube).
Reference
The Laws of Asean-Chess | Asean Chess Confederation.
☛ You can download my free Asean Chess program here, but you must own the software Zillions of Games to be able to run it (I recommend the download version).
☛ Don’t miss my other chess variants.
© M. Winther, 2021 December
