History TabletopGame / Checkers

English checkers is played on an 8x8 board of alternating color squares, much like the one TabletopGame/{{chess}} is played on. There are only two kinds of pieces: the normal checkers, which can only move forward diagonally, and "kings" which are created when a checker reaches the far side of the board and can move forward or backward diagonally. Since all moves are diagonal, all pieces throughout the game will always be on the same color square; the squares horizontally and vertically between them will never be occupied.

* ColorCodedArmies: The colors for the teams are usually black and red or dark and light.
* LargeAndInCharge: When a piece reaches the other side of the board they become a king and a second piece is added on top of them.
* MookPromotion: A piece can be promoted to king if it reaches the other side of the board. Doing so allows him to move backwards and forwards any number of spaces.

** As checkers has less rules and allows for less individual moves in the average situation than chess, it's easier for beginning players and computers. Good players will see an average of two viable moves on every turn in both games, meaning not slipping up becomes about equally hard for them in both games. Blind checkers, especially the "Polish" version (which almost certainly originates either in France or the Netherlands), played with 20 pieces on each side, actually appears to be a lot harder than blind chess. Chess players have less individual pieces to remember, and have an easier time distinguishing between them. Almost all chess pieces furthermore threaten a straight line, while a checkers piece can jump in the strangest zigzags when taking other pieces.
** It's been [[http://sciencenetlinks.com/science-news/science-updates/checkers-solved/ solved]] by computers. All you need to do is memorize 500 000 000 000 000 000 000 possibilities and you can force any game to a tie.
*** Even before it was solved, most high level tournament games tended to end in a draw unless a participant found some previously unseen move.

Checkers, or English draughts, is a strategy board game for two players. It's in the draughts family of games, which have the following properties in common:

!! Video game adaptations:
* Gametable.org's ''[[https://gametable.org/games/checkers/ Tabletop Checkers]]'', mobile-friendly checkers game with excellent graphics and sound effects.
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*** Even before it was solved, most high level tournament games tended to end in a draw unless a participant found some unseen before move.
* WeHaveReserves: Once you get ahead you have an almost inevitable chance of exchanging your way to victory. This is the case even more than in chess because the pieces are of equal value.

** It's been [[http://sciencenetlinks.com/science-news/science-updates/checkers-solved/ solved]] by computers. All you need to do is memorize the 500 000 000 000 000 000 000 possibilities and you can force any game to a tie.

Capturing an enemy piece is accomplished by ''jumping'' diagonally over that piece with your own; if your opponent is dumb enough to leave his pieces in a bad formation, it's possible to capture multiple enemy pieces by chain-jumping over them all in a single turn. However, if the compulsory-capturing rule is used, clever sacrifices can be made to force your opponent's pieces to go where you want them to.

* ColorCodedArmies: The colors for the teams are usally black and red or dark and light.

Checkers is a very old game, possibly OlderThanDirt, with similar games dating back to ancient times. A board resembling a draughts board was found in Ur dating from 3000 BC, and it has been confirmed that a game like this was played in AncientEgypt; the British Museum has checkerboards found in burial chambers. It was referenced by both {{Plato}} and {{Homer}}, who claimed it was of Egyptian origins.

* TheSiege: A player reduced to a single king can prolong the game by taking refuge in a double corner. This requires an elaborate series of choreographed moves similar to a siege to flush him out.

The word "checkers" is more common in the USA and Canada, and "draughts" everywhere else. "Checkers" usually means the specific game of English draughts, but it's also used to refer to the other draughts games (for example: "Turkish draughts" may be called "Turkish checkers"). Draughts games vary in terms of the size of the board, the number of pieces, and what powers a piece gains when it reaches the opposite side. In most versions, capturing is compulsory (though capturing the ''most'' pieces might not be). This rule is often forgotten or even disputed, [[http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/584214/why-checkers-gets-no-love to the chagrin of some]]. Players of one version are often unaware the other versions exist.

* WeHaveReserves: Once you get ahead you have an almost inevitable chance of exchanging your way to victory. This is the case even more then in chess because the pieces are of equal value.

* WeHaveReserves: Once you get ahead you have an almost inevitable chance of exchanging your way to victory.

English checkers is played on an 8x8 board of alternating color squares, much like the one {{chess}} is played on. There are only two kinds of pieces: the normal checkers, which can only move forward diagonally, and "kings" which are created when a checker reaches the far side of the board and can move forward or backward diagonally. Since all moves are diagonal, all pieces throughout the game will always be on the same color square; the squares horizontally and vertically between them will never be occupied.