At a glance
| Board | 10×10 — the 50 dark squares, numbered 1–50 |
|---|---|
| Pieces | 20 men per side |
| First move | White |
| Men | Move forward; capture forward and backward |
| Kings | Flying — slide any distance along open diagonals |
| Captures | Mandatory, and you must play the line that captures the most pieces |
| Crowning | A man passing over the back row mid-capture is NOT crowned — it must end there |
| Draws | Threefold repetition, or long sequences of quiet king moves on both sides |
The starting position
How international draughts plays
Everything English draughts does, bigger and sharper. Men still move one diagonal square forward, but they capture backward as well as forward. Kings are flying: they slide any number of empty squares along a diagonal, capture a piece anywhere on that line, and choose their landing square beyond it. And where English play lets you pick between jumps, international play enforces the majority rule — count every available capture line, and the one that takes the most pieces is the only legal move.
One subtlety the engine enforces exactly: a man whose capture chain merely passes over the back row is not crowned in passing — it must finish its move on the back row to become a king.
Why players love it
The majority rule turns quiet-looking positions into forcing sequences you can calculate like a proof, and flying kings make material sacrifice a real weapon. It is the world-championship game for a reason — start with the four-lesson international path to feel the difference from the 8×8 games.
How International draughts differs from English draughts
| Aspect | English draughts | International draughts |
|---|---|---|
| Board | 8×8, 32 dark squares | 10×10, 50 dark squares |
| Pieces | 12 men | 20 men |
| First move | Darker color | White |
| Men capturing | Forward only | Forward and backward |
| Kings | One diagonal step | Flying kings — any distance |
| Capture choice | Free choice among jumps | Majority rule: the longest capture is forced |
| Crowning mid-jump | Ends the move, man is crowned | No crowning in passing — only if the move ends on the back row |
Learn International draughts interactively — step-by-step coached lessons, free
New to the family? Start with the English draughts rules, compare the seven variants, or jump into the interactive lessons.