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International Draughts
International Draughts (or International Checkers) is played on a 10×10 board with 20 pieces placed on the first four rows on each side. There are 100 squares and the game is played only on the 50 dark squares. The general rule is that all moves and captures are made diagonally. The game is very popular in the Netherlands. It is also played in France, Eastern European countries, Africa, and some parts of the former Soviet Union. The game is knows as International Checkers in the United States.
International Draughts Rules
Moves and captures
The player with the light pieces makes the first move and then the two players make moves alternately. Playing pieces (Men) move forward one square diagonally to an empty square. Capturing is mandatory. You capture by jumping over the opposing piece and lending on the square that is diagonally adjacent. If a player has the opportunity to capture a piece then this must be done even if it is disadvantageous; in other words, Capturing is mandatory. If there is one unoccupied square before or behind opposing pieces then capturing by jumping multiple times over opposing pieces in a single turn forward or backward can and must be made. It is mandatory to capture as many pieces as possible. A player must choose the sequence that yields the most captured opponent's pieces. All captured pieces must be removed from the boards.
Crowning (Becoming a King)
A Man which reaches the far side of the board, whether by means of capture or a move, becomes a King. Another piece is placed on top of it to mark it as King. Kings can move freely multiple squares in any diagonal direction and may capture an opponent's piece some distance away in any diagonal direction. The King may choose where to stop after capturing an opponent's pieces – it can stop on the square directly adjacent to the captured piece or as many squares away from it, as long as those squares are vacant. Kings just like Men must capture the maximum number of pieces possible in any sequence of capturing. In contrast to popular (wrong) belief in the Netherlands, captures by Kings do not have priority over captures by Men.
Winning and draws
A player with no valid move remaining loses. This is the case if the player either has no pieces left or if a player's can't make a legal move. A game is a draw if neither of the players has the ability to win. |
