Learn Russian Checkers

Russian draughts is played on the same 8×8 board as international checkers, but with its own rules for captures and kings. Here's everything you need to start playing.

1. Setup & simple moves

Each side starts with 12 pieces on the dark squares of the three rows closest to them. Pieces only ever move on dark squares.

A regular piece ("man") moves one square diagonally forward, onto an empty square.

2. Captures are mandatory

If a piece can jump over an adjacent enemy piece into the empty square right behind it, that capture must be played — you can't make a quiet move instead.

Unlike in classic checkers, a man can capture both forward and backward.

3. Chain captures

If, after landing, the same piece can capture again, it must keep jumping — all in one turn. There's no limit on how many pieces a single move can take.

4. Kings ("damas") fly

A man that reaches the far row is crowned a king. Kings move any number of empty squares along a diagonal — like a bishop in chess — and can capture an enemy piece from a distance, landing anywhere past it on the same line.

5. Winning

You win by capturing every one of your opponent's pieces, or by leaving them with no legal move to make on their turn.