Draughts, also called checkers, is played on an 8 by 8 board using only the 32 dark squares, with 12 pieces per player that move diagonally forward, capture by jumping, and become kings on reaching the far row. In the standard English rules a capture is compulsory, which gives the game its tactics. A scratched board and 24 pebbles of two kinds are enough.
A two-player diagonal-jumping game: making the board, the rules of the standard English game, and its main variants.
Board And Pieces
An 8 × 8 board has 64 squares in alternating colours; only the 32 dark squares are used. Orient the board so that each player has a dark square at the near left corner. Each player’s 12 pieces fill the dark squares of the three rows nearest them: 3 rows × 4 dark squares per row = 12 (the pieces fill the first 3 rows, leaving two rows empty between the armies).
Pieces: 12 light, 12 dark, in all 24. Use two pebble colours, flat enough to stack. Mark squares on the ground by scratching an 8 × 8 grid and darkening alternate squares with charcoal; each square should be a little wider than your largest pebble.
Rules (Standard English Draughts)
- Moves. A man moves one square diagonally forward onto an empty dark square.
- Capture. A man jumps diagonally forward over an adjacent opposing piece onto the empty square beyond, removing it. If another jump is then available from the landing square, the same piece must continue.
- Compulsory capture. If you can capture you must; if several captures are possible you may choose.
- Kings. A man reaching the far row becomes a king. Mark it by stacking a captured pebble on top. A king moves and captures one square diagonally, forward or backward.
- Winning. You win by capturing all the opposing pieces or leaving the opponent no legal move. Players may agree a draw.
Variants. International draughts is played on 10 × 10 with 20 pieces each, men may capture backwards, and kings move any distance along a diagonal (long-range, “flying” kings). Many regions have their own forms. Agree which before starting.
With perfect play English draughts is a draw, which was shown by computer search in 2007 (Schaeffer and colleagues; recalled, verify). That has no effect on practical play.
What You Need
- A flat surface and a way to mark 64 squares
- 12 + 12 pieces of two kinds, with a few spare pebbles for kings
- Agreed rules about compulsory capture
Method: Teaching Draughts
Step 1: Set up with the dark square at each player’s near left.
Step 2: Show a move and a jump. Let the learner play a few turns.
Step 3: Teach compulsory capture with an example in which the opponent offers a piece and the forced jump opens a trap.
Step 4: Play full games, with the teacher watching until the learner makes few illegal moves.
Common Mistakes
- Turning the board a quarter turn. A light square then sits at each player’s near left corner and the setup is wrong.
- Moving onto light squares. Only dark squares are used.
- Forgetting that a capture continues. If another jump is available the piece must take it.
- Skipping a compulsory capture. The opponent may demand it.
What’s Next
- Learn next: Go (Simplified) — a placing game with different thinking
- Combine with: Board & Strategy Games — comparing the games