Variants

International Draughts

The board size is 10×10 with 20 pieces on each side and has flying kings. If there are many sequences to capture, one has to capture the sequence that has the most pieces. If a man touches the kings row from a jump and it can continue to jump backwards, it has to jump backwards, but it is not kinged. It is mainly played in the Netherlands, France, some eastern European countries, some parts of Africa, some parts of the former USSR, and other European countries. This is the most popular variant of draughts.

English Draughts

Also called American checkers or "straight checkers". It is played on an 8×8 board with 12 pieces on each side. Black (the darker colour) moves first. Men (the uncrowned pieces) can only move and capture forward. When there is more than one way for a player to jump, one may choose which sequence to make, not necessarily the sequence that will result in the most amount of captures. However, one must make all the captures in that sequence.

Brazilian Checkers

Exactly the same rules as international draughts, but played on a 8×8 board. It is mainly played in Brazil.

Canadian Checkers

Exactly the same rules as international draughts, but it is played on a 12×12 board with 30 pieces on each side. It is mainly played in Canada.

Pool Checkers

Exactly the same rules as Brazilian checkers, but when there is more than one way for a player to jump, one may choose which sequence to make, not necessarily the sequence that will result in the most amount of captures. However, one must make all the captures in that sequence. Another different rule between Brazilian checkers is that black moves first, instead of white. It is mainly played in the South-Eastern states in the United States.

Spanish Checkers

Also called Spanish pool checkers. Exactly the same rules as Brazilian checkers, but if there are many sequences to capture, one has to capture the sequence that has the most pieces. If there are still more sequences, one has to capture the sequence that has the most kings. Men cannot jump backwards. The board is mirrored (the left side is flipped to the right side and vice versa). It is mainly played in some parts in South America and some Northern African countries.

Russian Checkers

Also called shashki checkers or Russian shashki checkers. Exactly the same rules as Brazilian checkers, but if a man touches the kings row from a jump and it can continue to jump backwards, it has to jump backwards as kings, not men. It is mainly played in some parts in Russia, some parts of the former USSR, and Israel.

Italian Checkers

Men cannot jump kings and men cannot jump backwards. If there are many sequences to capture, one has to capture the sequence that has the most pieces. If there are still more sequences, one has to capture with a king instead of a man. If there are still more sequences, one has to capture the sequence that has the most kings. If there are still more sequences, one has to capture the sequence that has a king first. The board is mirrored (the left side is flipped to the right side and vice versa). It is mainly played in Italy, and some Northern African countries.

Suicide Checkers

Also called anti-checkers, giveaway checkers or losing draughts. One has to give away all of one's pieces or block all of your pieces to win; that is, stop oneself from having a legal move.

Russian Poddavki Checkers

Suicide version of Russian checkers.

Turkish Draughts

Pieces move straight forwards or sideways, kings move like a rook in chess, so that both light and dark squares are used. Each player starts with 16 pieces in the first two rows. It is mainly played in some parts in Russia, some parts of the former USSR, and Israel.