Checkers Variants — Explore Different Versions of the Classic Game

Checkers variants offer different ways to play the game, each with unique rules, strategies, and player counts. Here are the most popular variations and what makes each one distinct.

A World of Checkers Variants

Checkers isn’t one game — it’s a family of games with dozens of variants played across the globe. Each version shares the core concept of jumping over opponent pieces to capture them, but the details — board size, king powers, capture rules — vary significantly.

Major Variants

American/British Checkers (English Draughts)

The “standard” version most people know:

• Board: 8×8 (32 dark squares)
• Pieces: 12 per player
• Kings: Move one square in any diagonal direction
• Captures: Forward only for men; mandatory jumps
• Special rules: Men cannot capture backward

This is the version that was solved in 2007 — perfect play results in a draw.

International Draughts (10×10)

The global competitive standard:

• Board: 10×10 (50 dark squares)
• Pieces: 20 per player
• Kings: Flying kings (move any distance along diagonals)
• Captures: Men can capture backward; maximum capture rule
• Popular in: Netherlands, France, Russia, West Africa

See the full guide at International Draughts.

Russian Checkers (Shashki)

Similar to International Draughts but on a smaller board:

• Board: 8×8 (32 dark squares)
• Pieces: 12 per player
• Kings: Flying kings (like International Draughts)
• Captures: Men can capture backward; can promote mid-jump
• Popular in: Russia, Eastern Europe, Central Asia

The key difference from American checkers: flying kings and backward captures for men.

Brazilian Draughts

Essentially International Draughts rules on a smaller board:

• Board: 8×8 (32 dark squares)
• Pieces: 12 per player
• Kings: Flying kings
• Captures: Men capture backward; maximum capture rule
• Popular in: Brazil, Portuguese-speaking countries

Turkish Checkers (Dama)

A dramatically different variant:

• Board: 8×8 (all 64 squares used)
• Pieces: 16 per player
• Movement: Orthogonal (horizontal and vertical), not diagonal
• Kings: Flying kings moving orthogonally
• Popular in: Turkey, Middle East, North Africa

Turkish Checkers feels like a completely different game because of orthogonal movement.

Canadian Checkers

The largest standard variant:

• Board: 12×12 (72 dark squares)
• Pieces: 30 per player
• Kings: Flying kings
• Captures: Men capture backward; maximum capture rule
• Popular in: Canada (Quebec)

The 12×12 board makes this variant very complex and strategically rich.

Italian Checkers (Dama Italiana)

A historical European variant:

• Board: 8×8
• Pieces: 12 per player
• Kings: Move one square
• Special rules: Men cannot capture kings; mandatory maximum capture by kings
• Popular in: Italy

Spanish Checkers (Damas)

• Board: 8×8
• Pieces: 12 per player
• Kings: Flying kings
• Special rules: Maximum capture rule
• Popular in: Spain, parts of Latin America

Pool Checkers

• Board: 8×8
• Pieces: 12 per player
• Kings: Flying kings
• Popular in: African American tradition in the United States

Frisian Draughts

A unique variant from the Netherlands:

• Board: 10×10
• Pieces: 20 per player
• Special rules: Pieces can also capture orthogonally, not just diagonally
• Popular in: Friesland (Netherlands)

How to Choose a Variant

The Common Thread

Despite their differences, all checkers variants share:

• Two players, opposing colors
• Jumping to capture
• Piece promotion
• The goal: eliminate or immobilize all opponent pieces

This shared DNA means skills transfer between variants. Learn one, and you’ll have a head start on all the others.

Explore different ways to play — try Checkers for free on Rare Pike.