Rules of International Draughts

International Draughts is a strategic board game for two players. This variant offers complexity and tactical depth, providing a challenging experience that appeals to both amateurs and experts.

Game board and pieces

The board consists of 100 alternating dark and light squares, but only the 50 dark ones are used, numbered from 1 to 50. Square 46 is located in the left corner from the perspective of the player with the white pieces, while square 5 is located in the left corner from the perspective of the player with the black pieces.

Each player has 20 pieces, white for one player and black for the other one. In the starting position, the pieces are placed in the first four rows closest to each player, leaving the two central rows empty.

Movements and captures

The main rule is that all moves and captures are made diagonally. Other rules will be detailed below:

• The player with the white pieces moves first. From then on, the turns are alternated, and all movements have to be made diagonally onto an empty square.
• Opponent´s pieces must be captured by moving two squares forward or backward, over the opponent´s piece, onto an empty square immediately behind it. If there is a possibility of making a capture, it has to be made, even if it results in a disadvantage for the player who moves.
  • Multiple forward or backward moves in a single turn in order to perform multiple captures are mandatory if, after each move, there is an empty square immediately after the enemy piece. It is mandatory to capture as many pieces as possible, choosing the sequence of movements that allows the highest number of captures.
  • A captured piece is removed from the board at the end of the turn. In a movement with multiple jumps, the pieces are removed only after completing the whole sequence of movements.
  • The same piece cannot be captured more than once.

Kings

• A normal piece becomes a king if it reaches the last row of the board at the end of its turn. If it reaches the last row, but has still the possibility to move back, it has to do so and it won´t become a king. To mark a king, an additional piece is placed on top of it.
• Kings can move in any direction, capture an opposing piece that is some distance away, and choose where to stop. However, they still need to capture as many pieces as possible.

Victory and draw

• A player loses if they have no valid moves left. This can happen if you have run out of pieces or if all your pieces are blocked by the opponent's.
• The game ends in a draw if neither player can win.
• The game is considered a draw if the same position is repeated three times (not necessarily consecutively).
• An endgame with one queen against another queen is automatically declared a draw.
• The player with the highest number of pieces wins. In case of the same number of pieces on both sides, the winner will be the one with the most kings. If both players have also the same number of kings, the game will end in a draw.

Additional rules in some tournaments (may vary)

• If only king moves have been made in 25 moves, without normal piece moves or captures, the game ends in a draw.
• If there are only three kings left, two kings and one piece, or one king and two pieces against an enemy king, the game will be considered a draw after both players have made 16 turns each.
• To propose a draw, each player must have made at least 40 moves.

Remember, every move counts and every game is an opportunity to learn new strategies. Let's play and enjoy!