A Guide To Checkers Families and Rules PDF
A Guide To Checkers Families and Rules PDF
A Guide To Checkers Families and Rules PDF
sultan_ratrout@yahoo.com
Introduction, Page 3
Checkers/Draughts is a traditional board game played in many countries. To play the game, one needs a chess
board and pieces traditionally called men. Now, to play the game, we must go over the most important questions
[1] What board size should the player use? Depending on the checkers variant, it may be 8*8 , 10*10 or 12*12 or even 14*14.
[2] What colour is the bottom left square? The colour depends on the checkers variant. It may be black or light
[3] How many men should the player use? The number of men depends on the checkers variant and the size of the board. For
example, 8*8 > 12 men, 10*10 > 20 men, 12*12 > 30 men. At the beginning, the number of men is equal for both players.
[4] Where should the player locate the men? Usually playing is on the dark squares though some still play on light squares.
[5] Who should start the game? The checkers variant determines who starts the game. Sometimes, the players determine that.
[6] Where should the player move the men? The movement depends on the checkers variant. Usually, the men move
diagonally forward in the same colour of the squares. In some variants, the men move orthogonally forward or sideways.
[7] Is the player forced to capture the other men? Capture is mandatory and one is forced to capture the opponent’s men
[8] How does the player capture? Capturing is made by “jumping” – moving two consecutive steps in the same line, jumping
over the piece on the first step. Multiple opposing pieces may be captured in a single turn if done by successive jumps made by a
single piece
[9] How many pieces is the player allowed to capture? It depends on the checkers variant. Some allow maximum capture of
the opponent’s pieces. For example, if there is a chance to choose between capturing 10 or 8 men, you must capture 10 men.
Other variants, don’t force you to capture the maximum number of the opponent’s men. You can choose any capture sequence. If we
go back again to our example of 10 and 8 men, any sequence of capture here means you will choose either 10 or 8 men.
[10] In which direction can the player’s men move? The movement depends on the checkers variant. Usually, the men move
diagonally forward on the same colour of the squares. In some variants, the men move orthogonally forward or sideways.
[11] In which direction can the player capture the opponent’s men? The movement depends on the checkers variant.
Usually, men capture diagonally forward on the same colour of the squares. Some variants allow capturing backwards or orthogonal
[12] How can the player remove the captured men? Usually in diagonal games, men are removed after the whole capturing
move whereas in orthogonal games, men are removed during the capture. There few exceptions of course as in Thai checkers.
[13] Can capture continue in the last rank? Depending on the checkers variant, there are three possibilities.
[A] Capture terminates and a man becomes a king. [B] Capture continues and a man remains a man
[C] Capture continues with a man becoming a king
[14] What happens when the man reaches the final rank? Usually, the man is crowned and it becomes a king. It has more
privileges than the ordinary man. For example, it can move and capture forwards, backward and even orthogonally.
[15] What are the types of Kings? Kings can be of three types. [A] Non-flying kings (Short kings). Here, kings move only
one square forward or backward. They capture also one square forward or backward. [B] Flying Kings move any number of
squares diagonally/orthogonally forwards or backwards. After the completion of the capturing, Kings can land on any field behind
the captured piece. [C] Short Flying Kings (King Halt):- Here, Kings move any number of squares diagonally/orthogonally
forwards or backwards. After the completion of the capturing, the king must land directly behind the captured piece.
[16] When does the player win? A player wins if the opponent has no legal move, either because [a]all his pieces are captured
OR [b] he is completely blocked. OR [c] he resigns. There are also special winning conditions for some draughts variants.
[17] What about draw conditions? [a] If a player offers a draw and if the other side accepts, then the game is a draw.
[b] If both players are left with only one piece and if that piece is a king, then the game is a draw since the game can go on
indefinitely. [c] There are special draw conditions for some draughts variants either determined locally or by draughts
federations. Wikipedia has also draw conditions for many draughts variants.
(I) .Checkers Starting Positions
Old Polish
International, and in some
Croda, Frisian, Scandinavian and
Universal Checkers Indonesian German game books and
Laotian Michaelsen’s
reconstruction
8*8 10*10 10*10
Ivorian , Paraguayan,
Ghanian, Nigerian Canadian , Sri Lankan
Winther’s reconstruction Malaysian /Singaporean,
of Makvar and Marquere,
Dama Triestina
10*10 12*12 12*12
Diagonal [A] Forward: -NW=North West NE=North East [B] Backward: - SW=South West SE=South East
Orthogonal [A] Sideways: - W = West E=East [B] Forward: - N=North [C] Backward: - S=South
Russian/ Brazilian (1,3,6,7,10)
Bashni Filipino (3,6,7,10)
12
8*8
(1,5,6,7,10) Mozamb (3,6,7,(10))
men
Jam
Pool
(3,6,7)
Germ
North
(1,3,6,7)
(1,3,6,7)
Swazi(1,5,6,7,8,(10))
Am. Pool
(1,3,6,7,10)
Spantsiretti (1,5,6,7,10)
15
men
10*8
Internat (1,3,6,7,10)
Ghanaian/Nigerian (3,6,7,1(0))
20
Ivorian (1,3,6,7,10)
Diagonal
men
10*10
Laotian (1,3,6,7,10)
Canadian(1,3,6,7,10)
12
30
12*
men
Sri Lank (3,6,7,10)
14
S. Afric (1,3,6,7,10)
14*
42
men
Backward Capture
men
men
Marquere (1,3/4,6,7,10)
Diagonal+
orthogonal
20
10*
Winther, m. v (3,6,7,10)
(6)
halt
(10)
king
kings
pieces
Flying
with king
during
capture
capture
crowned
(11) King
direction
last rank
last rank
(12) King
in capture
(1) Bottom
rank+man
max kings
(9) Capture
is crowned
ends in last
mandatory
with a man
can reverse
(5) Capture
(8) Remove
(3) Capture
(4) Capture
(2) capture
left sq black
(long kings)
continues in
continues in
White starts
Czech (1,.4,6,7,9,10) Span/Port(2.4,6,7,10)
Am/Brit Afr-Am /Tanz (1,.4,6,7,(10)) Argen (2.4,6,7,10,11)
16
8*8
men
Maximum Capture
men
Thai (1,.4,6,7,8,10,11,12)
Diagonal
Indonesian (1.4,6,7,10)
10
20
10*
men
30
12*
Malaysia (1.4,6,7,(9),10)
men
*
8
8
8
Turk,Arb(1.3,6,7,8,10)
Greek(1.3,6,7,8,10,11)
Gothic (1.4,6,7,10) Armen I (1.3,/5,6,7,8,10)
16
men
Orthogonal
Turkthic (1.5,6,7,8,10,11)
Keny (1.5,6,7,8,10, 12)
(IV).Summary of Checkers Survey covering Board Presentation and Rules
Adigha (1,5,6,7,10)
m
24
Croda (1,3,6,7,10)
8*8
orthog
m
16
8*
24
Universal (1,3,6,7,10)
8*8
Di+
men
orth
(V). Give away Checkers
In traditional checkers games, the object of the game is to capture all of your opponent’s pieces first or
to block him. You do this by forcing yourself into capturing the opponent’s pieces. In contrast, the object
of give-away checkers game is to get rid of all of your pieces first (or be blocked). You do this by forcing
your opponent into captures. In other words, the winner is the first player to have no legal move: that is, all
1 Introduction of whose pieces are lost or blocked. You should remember that you must follow the rules of the
original game if you want to play any give-away of any checkers variant. Give-away is the same
as the standard checkers games. The only difference is that here you want to get rid of your pieces rather
than to get rid of the opponent’s pieces.
2 Alternative
terms Suicide Checkers, Anti-Checkers, Losing Checkers, Misère Checkers (Draughts).
3 Historical Give-away is relatively an old game. The Give-away German game dates back to the 19th century. In
background 1841, the "Universal-Lexikon der Gegenwart und Vergangenheit oder neuestes encyclopädisches
Wörterbuch der Wissenschaften, Künste und Gewerbe" by Heinrich Augus,t Pierer mentions this term and
its definition. The earliest reference is by Pierre Mallet: LE IEUV DE DAMES, Paris 1668.
4 Popular Give-away checkers isn’t that popular in the English speaking world. Give-away Czech checkers is
variants still popular. But the most popular game is Russian Give-away (Poddavki). It is a much played
variant nowadays. There is also Give-away International checkers.
In reality, one could play any kind of Give-away variant (Turkish, Pool…..etc)
5 Softwares The following softwares let you play the Give-away of any checkers variant that you want :-
playing give- WorldCheckers8 1.7 , Checkers-7 2.5 ,Mad Checkers and Gigant Checkers
away variants. The following softwares let you play specific variants of Give-away
Windames, checkersland, zillions of games,
6 Importance of The value of Give-away is to try something new, a new game with new strategies and tactics. In this case,
give-away your mind will accommodate a new perspective, one that fundamentally differs from the traditional
Checkers perspective which relies on different patterns. Remember, you need to be smart if you decide to play give-
away variants.
(VI) A simpler Checkers Survey (Basic Checkers Variants)
(1) Capture
Capture direction
continues in last rank bott Quality Priority Remove Man
Capture Type
(any capture sequence)
Movement
(2) Capture ends in left Rule:- Rule:- captured Can
direction
Flying last rank and man squ capture Capture pieces capture
Board + Pieces Start king becomes a king is maximum With King during king
Game (3) Capture continues black number of mandatory capture
in last rank with a kings
Exceptions
crowned man
8*8
Russian 12 W √ (3) √ X X X √
Forward and Backward capture
Pool 12 B √ (1) √ X X X √
Brazilian 12 W √ (1) √ X X X √
Diagonal
10*10
International 20 W √ (1) √ X X X √
Diagonal
12*12
Canadian 30 W √ (1) √ X X X √
14*14
South African 35 W √ (1) √ X X X √
Sequence of maximum capture
10*10
Diago+
ortho
Frisian 20 W √ (1) √ √ √ X √
8*8
Spanish 12 W √ (2) X √ X X √
Diagonal
Diagonal
Italian 12 W X (2) X √ √ X X
American 12 B X (2) √ X X X √
12*12
Malaysian 30 W √ (2) √ X √ X √
8*8
Forward capture
ortho
orthogonal
Turkish 16 W √ (1) X X √ √
-
-
+dia
Armenian 16 W √ (1) X X √ √
orth
go
(3)
8*8
8 B √ King (2)
Any capture
Diagonal
Diagonal
sequence
According to Freeling, Dameo had two immediate and one subsequent advantages over its predecessors:
[1] It adds flexibility in terms of overall progress (allowing for a more or a less aggressive style, as you like) while taking
nothing away: every move possible in a Croda position is also possible under Dameo’s rules.
[2] It decreases the heaviness on the sides, which are popular alleys for progress and attack in ‘square’ Draughts games.
Dameo requires economical maneuvering between the sides and the center.
[3] Two generic basic tactics emerged based on linear movement, the Double Square formation and the Ladder. The
former plays a key role throughout the opening and middle game.
(VIII) Geographical distribution of Draughts Variants
The following map is taken from Alemmani’s book, “LES JEUX DE DAMES DANS LE MONDE”
Note (1) In the Sahran area, people play games based on Alquerque board whether it is small or big.
Note (2) Of all the games in Mongolia, the closet draughts game to the western game of draughts is called “the dööv” and its board
is that of 2*8, i.e the board of Checkers games starting positions (E), Thai checkers. Mongolian draughts has a restriction. You can
only capture a piece at a time. Besides, there are many variants from one village to the other. In Mongolian draughts, men move
diagonally forward, but many things are not known, which explains why many variants exist. [a] It is not known whether men are
allowed to capture backwards. [b] It is not unknown whether the king is a short king or whether it is a flying king. [c] It is not known
whether one must abide by the maximum capture principle or whether one is allowed to choose any sequence of capture. [d] It is
not known whether a man can continue jumping in last rank as a king.
[3] Articles
Mourik, Wim van. (1998). Dammen in het land van koning Maswati, Het Damspel, page 8.
[1] Softwares
Aurora Borealis (Lite+Pro) The Pro version has comprehensive customization http://aurora.shashki.com
AlfaCheckers (8*8, 10*10, 12*12 with customization) https://hwiegman.home.xs4all.nl
Windames http://windames.free.fr/downloads2.html
Checkers-7 2.5 http://www.styleseven.com
Checkersland http://www.checkersland.com
Gigant Checkers http://members.chello.cz/pxmsoft
iXO http://www.setupgroup.com/xo_windows.php
Mad Checkers http://www.sapphiregames.com/madcheckers/
Cerberus Checkers http://home.planet.nl/~nagel580/Site/DownloadPagina.html
Zillions of games http://www.zillions-of-games.com [inbuilt, but has a few errors]
Checkers Collection http://www.zillions-of-games.com/cgi-bin/zilligames/submissions.cgi?do=show;id=2351
Checker Games http://www.zillions-of-games.com/cgi-bin/zilligames/submissions.cgi?do=show;id=218
Winther’s Comprehensive Checkers variants covering all Checkers families, Zillions
Turkish and Gothic Checkers variants http://mlwi.magix.net/bg/gothiccheckersvariants.htm
International Checkers variants http://mlwi.magix.net/bg/checkersvariants.htm
Spanish Checkers variants http://mlwi.magix.net/bg/spanishcheckersvariants.htm
Frisian Draughts http://mlwi.magix.net/bg/frisian.htm
Scandinavian Checkers variants http://mlwi.magix.net/bg/scandinaviancheckers.htm
Italian Dama http://mlwi.magix.net/bg/italiandama.htm
Serge Startsev Checkers softwares http://plus.gambler.ru/eng/down.html
Jocly Board (Windows, Mac and Linux) https://github.com/mi-g/joclyboard/releases
Valentin’s Dagaz Project (Online and Offline Windows version ) https://glukkazan.github.io/index.html
PlayBox Checkers https://sourceforge.net/projects/playbox/
Checker board (2008, with engines, strong) http://www.fierz.ch/engines.php
Fine Checkers (2001, demo with two levels only) http://www.lenagames.com/fcheck20d.exe
Checkers 2.34 (2003, strong) http://www.mediafire.com/file/sgvvt13ynlnphqq/checkers+2.34_.rar
[2] Android Apps
AuroraDraughts https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.AuroraDraughts
Checkersland https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.checkersland
Checkers 7 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=style_7.checkersset_7
Dalmax Checkers https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=dalmax.games.turnBasedGames.checkers
Oktaba Draughts https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=pl.lukok.draughts
Draughts - free board game https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=pl.surix.checkers
Checkers online https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.game.checkers.online
Spanish draughts variants https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ts.zac.dmes
Checkers for Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.checkers
Alex Firsov’s draughts variants https://play.google.com/store/search?q=Alexandr%2BFirsov%2Bcheckers&c=apps
Draughts N checkers https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.carbonapps.draughtsncheckers
Checkers 3D https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.H.Sub.checkers3d
Checkers 2018 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=checkers.online.classic.board.tactics
Checkers https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.boardgames.checkers
iXO https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.setupgroup.xo.free
Checkers elite https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.elvista.checkers
Out of the bit Checkers https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.outofthebit.thecheckers
B-interaktive Checkers https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.binteraktive.checkers.live
Checkers V+ https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zingmagic.checkersvfree
Bali Checkers https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.BaliCheckers.Checkers
Plus one labs Checkers https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.plusonelabs.checkers
Harokosoft Draughts https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.harokosoft.checkers
Miroslav’s draughts https://play.google.com/store/search?q=MIROSLAV%20draughts&c=apps
Lite Games Checkers https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.litegames.checkers_free__aat_google
Champion Checkers https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dqsoft.ChDraughts
Jocly Checkers https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jocly.android.app7_vc_as
Checkers https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dimcoms.checkers
Checkers Free https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lipandes.game.checkers
Draughts https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ru.appforge.draughts