Draughts
Draughts, also known as checkers, is a two-player strategy board game featuring diagonal piece movement and mandatory jumping captures. Players win by capturing all opposing pieces or preventing the opponent from making any legal moves.
AT A GLANCE
- ERA
- 12th century
- ORIGIN
- France
- PLAYERS
- 2 players
- EQUIPMENT
- Board and draughts
- PLAYING AREA
- 8×8 or 10×10 board
- DURATION
- 10–60 minutes
- GOVERNING BODY
- FMJD
- OLYMPIC
- No
Major draughts variants
| Variant | Grid Size | Pieces per Side | Flying Kings |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Draughts / Checkers | 8 × 8 | 12 | No |
| International Draughts | 10 × 10 | 20 | Yes |
| Canadian Draughts | 12 × 12 | 30 | Yes |
| Russian Draughts | 8 × 8 | 12 | Yes |
| Turkish Draughts | 8 × 8 | 16 | Orthogonal |
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| c. 1150 | Fierges emerges in France, combining Alquerque with the 8x8 chessboard. |
| 1538 | Antonio de Torquemada publishes the first book on draughts in Valencia. |
| 1756 | William Payne publishes the first dedicated English treatise on checkers. |
| 1947 | Fédération Mondiale du Jeu de Dames (FMJD) is founded in Paris. |
| 2007 | Computer program Chinook weakly solves 8x8 English checkers as a draw. |
How a game works
Two players take turns moving dark pieces diagonally forward across dark squares of a checkered grid. Capturing opponent pieces is compulsory by jumping over them into an empty space beyond. Reaching the opposite end crowns a piece as a king, granting backward diagonal movement.
Scoring in one line
A player wins by eliminating all opposing pieces or leaving the opponent with no legal moves.
Where it came from
Modern draughts developed around 1150 in medieval France as Fierges, adapting the ancient Middle Eastern game Alquerque onto a standard chessboard. In 16th-century Spain, compulsory capture rules were introduced, laying the foundation for modern regional and international variants.
Draughts today
International Draughts (10×10) and English Draughts (8×8) are governed globally by the Fédération Mondiale du Jeu de Dames (FMJD). In 2007, computer scientists proved that perfect play by both sides in 8×8 checkers guarantees a draw.
Run a Draughts tournament
Brackets, fixtures and standings in your browser — Match of 2–12 games.
FAQ
What is the difference between draughts and checkers?
Checkers is the American English name for English Draughts (played on an 8×8 board), while 'draughts' is the broader name including 10×10 International Draughts.
Is capturing mandatory in draughts?
Yes, in nearly all standard rulesets, if a player has an available capture jump on their turn, they must take it.
Has draughts been solved by computers?
Yes, 8×8 English checkers was weakly solved in 2007 by the computer program Chinook, proving that perfect play always results in a draw.