Checkers Rules Variations

A game that has been around as long as Checkers has been, and with such a global appeal, is certain to have hundreds of variations. Below you will find some of the most interesting variations to the game. Some of them are variations that occurred based on the country the game is played in, and some are variations of American checkers with twisted rules and additional challenges.

Polish draughts: The white (or red) piece moves first. Pieces, besides kings, can capture the opponent’s pieces backwards. This version is mainly played in the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Eastern Europe, former USSR, and a few African countries.

English draughts: Only 12 pieces on each side. The board is only 8x8. Kings cannot capture the opponent’s pieces by going backwards…only forwards.

Canadian checkers: On a 12x12 board with 30 pieces in each side. White moves first. Other rules are the same as American Checkers.

Russian checkers: An 8x8 board with 12 pieces on each side. White goes first. Both regular pieces and kinged pieces can move forwards and backwards.

Spanish checkers: If both a kinged piece and a non-kinged piece can jump, the king MUST be the one to jump.

Lasca: This variation is on a 7×7 board but only 25 squares are initially used. When pieces are jumped they are placed underneath the jumper, thus creating towers of pieces. So, when a tower is jumped, only the top piece is captured.

Anti-checkers: The winner is the player who has no checkers left, or who is blocked and cannot move legally. (This game is also called suicide checkers.)

Cheskers: A chess and checkers combination game. Each player begins with pieces from a chess set, a bishop and a knight. These pieces will move in a 3,1 manner so that they remain in the black squares. When a piece reached the last row, they are elevated in status to become a bishop, a knight or a king.

Tiers or Ultra-Checkers: Pieces are kinged when they reach King Row. Then, when they return to their own King Row, they receive the next tier and a higher status. And back and forth, the piece moves until it reaches the fifth tier. Each time the piece is elevated a tier, it receives greater abilities. For example, after a king returns to its King Row, it becomes a Triple King and can jump over its own pieces. Quad Kings can skip an empty space before it jumps. Ultra-kings can move to any square that another piece is not residing in and can move other pieces on its side as well.

DeMath: Uses a mathematical equations and numbered chips. This game is often played in the Philippines.

Standoff: A combination of checkers and dice.

Board draughts: Each player places 8 pieces in the first two rows. Pieces cannot capture the opponent’s pieces. Pieces can only jump pieces and must move in a forward direction. Once a piece reaches the opposite end of the board, it is removed. The player with no pieces left is the winner.

These are a few of the many variations that can be played. Consequently, you can never tire of the game of Checkers…if you do, just move on to a new variation and let the fun begin.