At a glance
| Russian draughts | English checkers | |
|---|---|---|
| First move | White | Black |
| Men capture | forwards and backwards | forwards only |
| Kings move | any distance | one square |
| Promotion during a capture | keeps capturing as a king | the move ends |
| Draws | repetition + 15 moves and endgame limits | repetition + 40 moves |
| Notation | a3-b4, c3:e5 | 11-15, 22x15 |
Same position, different move
What this does to the game
- In Russian draughts the first king often decides the game: it controls the whole board and is hard to trap. Backward captures make shots frequent and surprising.
- In English checkers the king is less dominant; piece structure and tempo matter most. In the endgame the double corner saves the defender.
- Draw limits differ as well: in Russian draughts a small endgame soon becomes a draw (for example within 5 moves), while checkers allows 40 moves, so a long chase is possible.
Which one to pick
In Uzbekistan and the CIS people usually play Russian draughts, so it is the default. In the USA and the UK checkers is the popular one. Try both against the computer or a friend: the rules switch with one tap in the lobby.
FAQ
Which is harder?
Russian draughts has sharper tactics; checkers rewards long calculation and exact endgames. Beginners tend to get results faster with Russian rules because the king is so strong.
Is there international draughts (10×10)?
Not yet: the site offers Russian and English rules on the 8×8 board.
Is there one rating for both?
Yes, there is currently one shared Elo rating.
How to win at checkers: strategy for beginnersshots, the centre, the endgame
Checkers online: real opponents and a ratingclocks, rating, how a game runs
Checkers rules, explained with diagramsmoves, captures, kings, draws