What English speakers call checkers is one regional version of a family of games played worldwide. The variations are not cosmetic — a change to the capture rule alters the whole character of play.
English draughts (American checkers)
8×8 board, 12 pieces each, men capture forward only, kings move one square diagonally in any direction, and you may choose between available captures. This is what the board on this site plays.
International draughts
10×10 board, 20 pieces each, and three important rule changes: men may capture backwards as well as forwards, kings are 'flying' and move any distance along a diagonal, and you must always take the maximum number of pieces available.
The maximum-capture rule changes everything. Long combinations of five or six captures are common, and calculating them accurately is the central skill. The flying king makes endgames far more dynamic.
| Variant | Board | Men capture backwards | Flying kings | Maximum capture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | 8×8 | No | No | No |
| International | 10×10 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Russian | 8×8 | Yes | Yes | No |
| Brazilian | 8×8 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Turkish | 8×8 | Orthogonal movement | Yes | Yes |
Russian draughts
8×8 with backward captures and flying kings, but no maximum-capture rule. A man that reaches the back row during a capture chain promotes immediately and continues the chain as a king, which produces spectacular sequences.
Turkish draughts
The outlier. Pieces move and capture orthogonally — forward and sideways — rather than diagonally, and they use all 64 squares. Sixteen pieces per side, arranged in two rows. It feels genuinely different despite sharing the family name.
Canadian and other large boards
Canadian draughts uses a 12×12 board with 30 pieces each, following international rules. Games are long and combinations are enormous. It is played mainly in Quebec.
Which to try
If English draughts feels tactically thin, international is the natural next step — backward captures and the maximum rule add enormous depth. If you like the 8×8 board, Russian keeps the size while adding flying kings.
The maximum-capture rule is the big divide
Variants that force the longest capture reward precise calculation over judgement. Variants that let you choose reward positional sense. Try one of each and see which suits you.
What transfers
The core ideas survive across all of them: advance in supported groups, control the centre, watch mobility, and use compulsory capture to force replies. The specific tactics differ, but the habit of counting exchanges to the end is universal.
The board on this site plays English draughts, which remains the best entry point because the rules are simplest and the games are short.