Anthony Lee
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Introduction to Burmese Chess

In this thread, I shall introduce everyone to yet another chess game that has originated outside the Western world. This time, I shall talk about sittuyin, a chess game found in Myanmar (formerly Burma), so it may sometimes be called Burmese chess.
12:24 AM - Feb 24, 2024
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Anthony Lee
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Like Western chess, sittuyin involves an 8x8 board of 64 squares. But you'll also notice two diagonal lines going from one corner of the board to another. what are they for? Well, they're related to pawn promotion. More on that later.

For now, I need to explain other caveats about the board.
12:24 AM - Feb 24, 2024
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Anthony Lee
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There's actually some flexibility with arranging pieces at the start of the game.

The eight feudal lords (pawns) must be lined up in their 3rd and 4th rows, half and half, while the chariots (rooks) can start in any square in the 1st row and all other pieces can be anywhere behind the feudal lords.
12:24 AM - Feb 24, 2024
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Anthony Lee
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When each player arranges their pieces according to the rules, it is done with a curtain or other opaque barrier placed through the middle of the board. This conceals each opponent's pre-game piece arrangement from one another. Once both sides are done, the barrier is lifted and the game begins.
12:24 AM - Feb 24, 2024
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Anthony Lee
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The eight feudal lords (pawns) move one square forward and capture one square diagonally forward.

The one general moves one square in any diagonal direction.

When a feudal lord undergoes promotion, it becomes a general. But there are rules related to this aspect of the game. Hear me out.
12:24 AM - Feb 24, 2024
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Anthony Lee
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Promotion of feudal lords to generals can occur only when:
1. The feudal lord is in a square crossed by one of the long diagonal lines.
2. The player does not have a general in play.

Also:
1. Choosing to promote uses a turn.
2. If an unpromoted feudal lord leaves the promotion square, that's it.
12:24 AM - Feb 24, 2024
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Anthony Lee
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Two pieces move exactly the same way as in Western chess.

The chariots, like rooks, move horizontally or vertically for any unobstructed distance.

The horses, like knights, move two squares horizo tally or vertically and then one square in a perpendicular direction, all while jumping pieces.
12:24 AM - Feb 24, 2024
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Anthony Lee
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thread 8/10
The two elephants can move one square forwars or one square in any diagonal direction. Or another way: they can move one square forward or diagonally, or move backward one square diagonally.

(If this sounds familiar, this is the same set of movements as the silver general in Japanese chess.)
12:24 AM - Feb 24, 2024
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Anthony Lee
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thread 9/10
Lastly, the king moves one square in any direction.

The object of the game is to move your pieces in a way that threatens to capture the opponent's king (check) while leaving no way out (checkmate). That, of course, is the objective of every chess game ever.

There you have it. Enjoy this game. 🙂
12:24 AM - Feb 24, 2024
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Anthony Lee
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thread 10/10
By the way, here is an example of a checkmate in sittuyin, with the king trapped by two chariots in the opponent's two rows.
12:26 AM - Feb 24, 2024
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