Burmese Chess

If you had a Java-capable browser, you could play Burmese chess here.
Keys "s"=save "l"=load "b"=back once

Pieces are dropped onto the board before play starts, behind the original row of pawns. Pritchard states that one side drops all the pieces first, then the other days, and adds that other sources say dropping the pieces alternate.

Generals move one square diagonally. Elephants move one square diagonally or one square straight ahead.

There is no double-first move for pawns.

There is no castling.

You may not move to cause stalemate. If you do that here, you lose.

Once the original general is gone, pawns promote to general on the diagonal-lined squares on the opposite side of the board. I programmed it so that the promotion actually takes place when the pawn moves or captures as a general. If the pawn captures the enemy general on its first move, it must do so as a pawn, and then it remains a pawn. Pawns awaiting promotion are shown as generals without rifles. I did not implement the rule that a pawn cannot check the king as it promotes.

King Moves as in FIDE chess.

Rook Moves as in FIDE chess.

Knight Moves as in FIDE chess.

General Moves one square diagonally in any direction.

Elephant Moves one square diagonally in any direction, or one square directly forward.

Pawn Moves as in FIDE chess.
When a pawn occupies one of the squares on the opponent's side with a diagonal line, it is able to promote to a general, and is designated by the lower symbol.

This may only occur after the player's original general has been captured.
To promote to general, move as a general.
If the pawn leaves the promotion square, it cannot promote.

I have not yet implemented the following rules:

A promoting general's first move cannot give check or capture the king.

A piece may be dropped on a pawn, and the pawn placed on another legal square.

Burmese Chess

Chess Variants

These are simple illustrations rather than strong opponents.

Bug Reports -- Thank you! Keep them coming!

Written by Ed Friedlander

WWW Page Added: Sunday, December 30, 2001

	King	Moves as in FIDE chess.
	Rook	Moves as in FIDE chess.
	Knight	Moves as in FIDE chess.
	General	Moves one square diagonally in any direction.
	Elephant	Moves one square diagonally in any direction, or one square directly forward.
	Pawn	Moves as in FIDE chess. When a pawn occupies one of the squares on the opponent's side with a diagonal line, it is able to promote to a general, and is designated by the lower symbol. This may only occur after the player's original general has been captured. To promote to general, move as a general. If the pawn leaves the promotion square, it cannot promote.