How to play Draughts: rules and scoring

Mark who won each game; the first to the chosen number of wins takes the match. Turkish dama or international draughts.

Turkish dama

• 2 players
• 16 pieces each
• Match score

Goal: Capture all of the other player’s pieces, or leave them with no move.

Setup

• Pieces fill the second and third rows.
• The starter swaps every game.

How to play

1. A piece moves one square forward or sideways, never back.
2. Jump over an enemy piece to capture it; capturing is compulsory.
3. One move can capture several pieces in a row.
4. A piece reaching the far row becomes a dama and moves any distance in a straight line.

Scoring

• The winner gets 1 win.
• A drawn game counts for nobody.

Winning

• The first to the chosen number of wins takes the match.

Note

The app keeps only the match score, so it works the same for international draughts. The rules above are Turkish dama’s.

International draughts

• 2 players
• 10×10 board
• 20 pieces each

Goal: Capture all of the other player’s pieces, or leave them with no move.

Setup

• Pieces fill the dark squares of the first four rows.
• White moves first.

How to play

1. A piece moves one square diagonally forward.
2. Jump diagonally over an enemy piece to capture it; captures may go backwards.
3. Capturing is compulsory; take the way that captures the most.
4. A piece reaching the far row becomes a king and moves any distance diagonally.

Scoring

• The winner gets 1 win.
• A drawn game counts for nobody.

Winning

• The first to the chosen number of wins takes the match.

Note

A piece that only passes through the far row during a capture and ends elsewhere doesn’t become a king.