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Checkers · Variants

The eight checkers variants

Same shaped pieces, eight different games. Every profile below is implemented move-for-move in Boardgammon's engine — these tables describe exactly what the game will and won't let you play, not approximate folklore.

One table, eight rulebooks

VariantBoard · menMen capture backwardKingsCapture choiceCrowning mid-jump
English draughts8×8 · 12NoOne stepFree choiceCrowns, move ends
International draughts10×10 · 20YesFlyingLongest forcedNo crowning in passing
Brazilian draughts8×8 · 12YesFlyingLongest forcedNo crowning in passing
Russian draughts8×8 · 12YesFlyingFree choiceCrowns and keeps capturing
Pool checkers8×8 · 12YesFlyingFree choiceCrowns, move ends
German draughts8×8 · 12NoFlyingFree choiceCrowns, move ends
Italian draughts8×8 · 12NoOne stepStrict Italian priorityCrowns, move ends
Turkish dama8×8 · 16 (orthogonal)No (sideways yes)Flying (rook-like)Longest forcedCrowns, move ends

Capture is mandatory in every variant. “Longest forced” is the majority rule: you must play the line that captures the most pieces. Italian draughts goes further with its strict priority ladder: most pieces, then capturing with a king, then most kings captured, then the line meeting kings earliest. First move is White everywhere except English draughts, where the darker color starts.

Pick your tradition

English draughts · American checkers

8×8, play on the 32 dark squares

The classic: forward men, one-step kings, forced jumps. Rated online play.

International draughts · Polish draughts

10×10, play on the 50 dark squares

The 10×10 world-championship game: flying kings, majority capture.

Russian draughts · Русские шашки

8×8, play on the 32 dark squares

Shashki: backward captures and men that crown mid-jump — the sharpest 8×8 game.

Brazilian draughts · Damas brasileiras

8×8, play on the 32 dark squares

International rules on the 8×8 board — flying kings, majority capture.

Pool checkers · American pool checkers

8×8, play on the 32 dark squares

Backward captures and flying kings with free capture choice — the APCA game.

German draughts · Damespiel

8×8, play on the 32 dark squares

English-style men paired with flying kings — the central-European house rules.

Italian draughts · Dama italiana

8×8 mirrored — the 32 dark squares, single dark corner at each player’s right

The mirrored board where men can never capture kings — strict capture priority.

Turkish dama · Türk daması

8×8 — ALL 64 squares are used

The Mediterranean outlier: straight and sideways on all 64 squares.

Start with the English draughts rules — every other page describes itself as a set of differences from that baseline.