Mak Khum - The Classic Game with a Y2K Twist

Chulalak Chaidee

       Mak Khum, Mak Lum, or Lum Mueang is a traditional game popular among children in Southern Thailand during the 1990s. It was an absolute must-know for kids during that era, and it's still a game worth knowing today. If you compare it to modern games, Mak Khum is quite similar to the UNO card game, but with its unique gameplay style. Interestingly, both games have one thing in common - they can ruin friendships! When I was in elementary school, my friends and I used to play Mak Khum. However, things could get intense, and we almost ended up fighting because of the game. So it is possible that this game can either strengthen or end friendships.

      There are only two things needed for playing Mak Khum – the Mak Khum board and Swat, which are wild fruit found in Southern Thailand (or you can just use marbles). They are easy to carry around, so you can play whenever and wherever you want - just not in class or at work. Plus, the game is super simple, even a newbie can pick it up in no time.

How to play Mak Khum

       1. The number of Swat that goes into a hole in Mak Khum depends on the number of parallel holes present. For instance, if there are seven holes on each side, you'll put seven balls into each hole to ensure that each hole, except for the end holes called the Hua Mueang holes on both sides, has the same number of balls.

       2. To determine who goes first in Mak Khum, both players must play a game of rock-paper-scissors. The winner gets to choose any one of the holes on their own side and pick up all the balls from that hole. They must then drop the balls one by one into the holes in a counterclockwise direction, including the Hua Mueang holes. The player must drop only one ball per hole. Once the last ball lands in a hole, the player picks up all the balls in the next hole and continues to drop them counterclockwise, one ball per hole, until a ball ends up in an empty hole and there are no more balls to pick up. The turn ends once the last ball has been dropped, and the player must stop playing and yield the turn to their opponent.

       3. At the end of the turn, if the Swat ends up in any hole on the player's side, they can take all the balls from the opposite hole and put them in the Hua Mueang hole on their side.

       4. The game continues as said until both players have no more balls left in any of the holes. Therefore, there will only be the balls in Hua Mueang holes. To determine the winner, both players count the number of balls in their Hua Mueang hole. The player with the highest number of balls in their Hua Mueang hole is declared the winner.

       How does it sound? The rules of play are actually quite simple, wouldn't you agree? It is a great way to exercise your mind, develop your wit, and practice your planning skills. Not only that, but it is also a fun way to spend time with your family, siblings, and friends. While it may not be as trendy as online games today, it was definitely a hit among teenagers (especially those in the South of Thailand) during the 90s. Whether you're looking to relive some childhood memories or just want to try something new, be sure to buy a Mak Khum board and keep Swat on hand so that "you can play it anytime you want".

Suchitra Mekmok. (2022). Mak Khum. Retrieved from https://oer.learn.in.th/search_detail/result/287899