Checkers vs draughts: the variants explained

In the United States the game is checkers; in Britain and most of Europe it is draughts. They are the same family, but dozens of local versions exist, and the rules differ in ways that change the whole game.

Checkers or draughts?

The words are two names for one family of games. "Checkers" is the American name (from the chequered board) and "draughts" the British one (from an old verb meaning to draw or move). The version most Americans know is American checkers, which the British call English draughts. Elsewhere, "draughts" or its translation (dames, damas, shashki) usually means a different variant.

Four rule sets you can play on CheckersTalk

American (English) checkers

8 by 8 board, 12 pieces each. Men move and capture forward only. Kings move one square in any diagonal direction. A capture is compulsory, but you may choose which one. The dark pieces move first.

Russian draughts (shashki)

8 by 8 board, 12 pieces each, but men may also capture backward, and kings are flying kings: they travel any distance along a diagonal and can capture from afar, landing on any empty square beyond. If a man reaches the king row while capturing, it becomes a king at once and keeps capturing as a king. Captures are compulsory, but you need not choose the longest. White moves first.

International draughts (10 by 10)

10 by 10 board, 20 pieces each, men capture backward, kings fly. The key difference is the majority rule: you must take the sequence that captures the most pieces. Captured pieces are removed only after the whole chain is finished. This is the game of the World Draughts Federation (FMJD), played worldwide, especially in the Netherlands, France, Poland, Russia, Ukraine and Senegal. White moves first.

Turkish draughts (dama)

Played on all 64 squares, with 16 pieces each on the second and third rows. Pieces move straight, not diagonally: one square forward or sideways. They capture by jumping forward or sideways. Kings move any distance in straight lines, like a rook in chess. Majority capture is compulsory, and White moves first. Turkish draughts is played in Turkey, Greece, Egypt and the Levant.

Other versions you may meet

Brazilian draughts is played on an 8 by 8 board with the International rules (men capture backward, flying kings, majority capture). It is hugely popular in Brazil.
Italian draughts (dama italiana) has men that move and capture forward only, a man cannot capture a king, and the capture of the most pieces is compulsory.
Spanish draughts uses flying kings, but men capture forward only.
Canadian checkers uses a 12 by 12 board with 30 pieces each.
Pool checkers is a version popular in the American South that uses backward capture and flying kings on the 8 by 8 board.

Side by side

Variant	Board	Pieces	Men capture backward	Flying kings	Capture rule
American	8x8	12	No	No	Any sequence
Russian	8x8	12	Yes	Yes	Any sequence
International	10x10	20	Yes	Yes	Maximum
Brazilian	8x8	12	Yes	Yes	Maximum
Italian	8x8	12	No	No	Maximum; men cannot take kings
Turkish	8x8, all squares	16	Forward and sideways	Yes (rook-like)	Maximum

Which should you learn first?

Start with American checkers: it is the simplest and lets you meet the core ideas of forced jumps and kings. If you like it, Russian is the natural next step because it uses the same board, and International draughts is the deepest. Turkish draughts feels completely different and is a good challenge for experienced players. Read the American rules first, then try each variant at CheckersTalk.

The board and the numbering differ too; see the board and pieces guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is checkers the same as draughts?

They are the same family of games. In the United States "checkers" usually means American checkers, which is called English draughts in Britain. Other regions play variants with different boards and rules.

What is the difference between American and International draughts?

International draughts uses a 10 by 10 board with 20 pieces each, lets men capture backward, has flying kings, and requires the capture of the most pieces. American checkers uses 8 by 8 with 12 pieces, men capture only forward, and kings move one square.

What are flying kings?

A flying king moves any number of empty squares along a diagonal, like a bishop in chess, and can capture an enemy piece from a distance, landing on any empty square beyond it.

Sources

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