International draughts · Variants

International draughts essentials

International draughts is played on a 10 by 10 board with twenty pieces per side. Men can capture backward. Kings fly along whole diagonals. And when several captures exist, you must take the one that captures the most.

5 min · 3 steps

This is the written edition of an interactive Boardgammon lesson — in the app, the coach narrates while you play every move on a live board.

Step 1 · The 10 by 10 game

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International draughts is played on a 10 by 10 board with twenty pieces per side. Men can capture backward. Kings fly along whole diagonals. And when several captures exist, you must take the one that captures the most.

Coach narration

Step 2 · What is larger?

Compared with English checkers, what is the first visible difference in International draughts?

Choose the visible board difference.

Quick check

  • The board is 10 by 10
  • Pieces use every square
  • Each side starts with twelve pieces
Show the correct answer

Correct answer: The board is 10 by 10 — Correct. The larger board gives International draughts its longer range.

  • Pieces use every square — International draughts still uses diagonal dark-square movement.
  • Each side starts with twelve pieces — Count the rows: each side starts with twenty pieces on the 10 by 10 board, eight more than English checkers.

Coach narration

Step 3 · Backward capture

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On the board: Backward jump

Men in International draughts can capture backward. Take the highlighted jump to feel the rule on the board.

Tap the light piece, then tap the highlighted landing square behind it, beyond the dark piece.

The move: international capture

Good. That backward capture is legal here, and the other dark piece was out of reach — captures are never optional.

Common mistake: Use the highlighted light piece and jump backward over the dark piece to the landing square.

Coach narration

What you learned

You can now recognize International draughts: a 10 by 10 board, twenty pieces per side, and men that capture backward. Next you will put the maximum-capture rule and flying kings to work.

Coach narration