Russian checkers game rules for children beginners. Learning to play checkers: useful materials and tips. The most common types

Checkers is a board game that perfectly develops mental abilities, logic and endurance. This game is played by people of different ages, but it is most useful for children. You can allow your child to play from the age of four, when the child begins to understand the essence of the game and is ready to adhere to the rules.

Note! The game of checkers is recognized as one of the most educational games. Children develop logic and strategic thinking.

Table: required items for the party.

Two players take part in the game. The main goal of the fight is to win.

It is recognized in two ways:

  • The second player has no chips left on the board.
  • The opponent independently admits his defeat.
  • If none of the players can win, then the game is awarded a draw.

    Rules for playing checkers for beginner children briefly:

    1. The board is located between two opponents with a dark field on the left side.
    2. The choice of pawns is determined by drawing lots.
    3. They are placed on the three fields closest to the player (the very first 3 horizontal lines).
    4. They are placed only on black cells.
    5. The player who got the white checkers goes first.
    6. The move is made along a diagonal line to an empty square.
    7. There are two types of chips:

      Simple. They can only walk through one cell.
      Queens are inverted pawns. When a regular checker reaches the opponent's last horizontal line, it becomes a queen.

      But it is worth remembering that a king is a little different from a simple pawn, it has more possibilities, so it is worth knowing how the king moves. She walks along a diagonal line for any number of cells.

    8. A piece hits another piece when it jumps over it diagonally along one cell. The queen is allowed to jump over any number of squares.
    9. The checkers are played both forward and backward. When the opponent has captured, that pawn is removed from the board.

    The most common question among beginners is “is it necessary to hit the chip?” Yes, often opponents substitute one of their checkers, luring the opponent to capture his pawns. You need to hit. This is a mandatory condition that cannot be violated.

    How to play checkers correctly: rules for beginners:

    • The pawns move in turns.
    • The move is over when the player removes his hand from the checker.
    • When touching a pawn, the player must make a move.
    • It is prohibited to rearrange or correct objects yourself without the consent of the second opponent.

    Rules for playing corners with checkers for beginners

    Playing corners with checkers is an ancient pastime. Previously, such entertainment was called “halma”.

    Rules for playing corners with checkers:

    • Initially the board is placed.
    • Each player chooses a color.
    • A “house” of pawns is built on the board in the upper right corner and lower left corner:

      1-A, 1-B, 1-C, 2-A, 2-B, 2-C, 3-A, 3-B, 3-C (3 horizontal rows of 3 pieces).
      6-H, 7-H, 8-H, 6-G, 7-G, 8-G, 6-F, 7-F, 8-F (3 horizontal rows of 3 pieces).

    • Next, using symmetrical moves, you need to move the checkers to the opponent’s “corner”.
    • The game is over if:

      The opponent placed all of his game items in the opposite corner.
      The opponent has made more than forty moves, but he has two or more chips left in his “house”.
      The opponent returned the checker to the corner after forty moves had been completed.

    Do's and Don'ts:

    1. It is forbidden to walk asymmetrically.
    2. You are allowed to move only once with one chip.
    3. It is allowed to jump over both vertical and horizontal lines.

    Important! This entertainment first appeared in Great Britain in 1880. In the original, this game is played on a board with parameters of 16 by 16 cells.

    Rules for playing Chapaev checkers

    This type of party was named in honor of the Civil War hero V.I. Chapaev. She was popular in the Soviet Union.

    Rules of the game step by step:

    1. Checkers are placed on the game board in two horizontal rows. Black and white cells are filled.
    2. With a click, each opponent knocks out the opponent's pieces.
    3. The game is over when there are no checkers left on the last horizontal line.

    Varieties of checkers

    There are several types of checkers.

    Note! In the CIS countries, ordinary Russians are popular.

    Varieties:

    • Classic Russians.
    • International.
    • American.
    • Italian.
    • Canadian.
    • Brazilian.

    All types are similar to each other, except for international and Canadian ones.

    Table: comparative characteristics.

    Rules in various forms:

    • The chip has the right to hit back in Russian, international, Brazilian, Canadian and pool checkers.
    • The chip does not have the right to hit in the opposite direction in the Spanish, Portuguese, Czech and Turkish variations of the game.
    • The queen has the ability to move only one square in checkers and Italian games.
    • In the Spanish variation, checkers are placed diagonally.

    Meaning of catch signs:

    • "!" - not a bad move.
    • "!!" - an unexpected move.
    • "+" - winning.
    • "=" draw.
    • "!?" - a dubious move.
    • “#” — blocking chips.

    The birthplace of this game is Egypt. It was in this republic that the first evidence was found that the Egyptians played the board game. The game appeared in Russia in the third century. The first championships began to be held in the 19th century.

    Famous Russian checkers players:

    • Tsinman D.M.
    • Dashkov O. N.
    • Kolesov G. G.
    • Korolev Yu.M.
    • Skrabov V.V.
    • Sukhovich V. S.
    • Imshetov R.G.
    • Belikov A.A.
    • Arkhipov V. B.
    • Burov S.V.

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    Content

    Checkers is a very famous board game for two players. Only a few know how to play checkers correctly, and even fewer people are aware of the ways to ensure a guaranteed victory in any game. Although its rules are simple, knowledge of them is not enough to remain a winner all the time. To do this, you need to practice using some tricks.

    Rules of the game of checkers

    You need to play this board game on a standard field with 8x8 cells. The total number of playing pieces for two is 24, i.e. 12 of them are distributed per participant. Before placing them, you need to turn the board so that there is a black square in the lower left corner in front of the participant playing for white checkers. Only dark fields are used - opponents place pieces on them.

    The main goal is to completely remove all of the opponent’s pieces or block them so that he cannot “move” any further and has no moves left. You need to play as follows:

    • The player who got the white pieces goes first.
    • Participants move only to black squares, that is, diagonally, and move forward - this method of movement is called “quiet”.
    • To beat the enemy, they also move diagonally, “jumping” over the adjacent “enemy” figure, if the next field along the same diagonal is free - this type of move is called “battle”.
    • The checker used to hit the opponent's piece is placed on the square behind it, and the beaten one is removed from the field.
    • The piece that reaches the opposite edge of the board becomes a queen (it is turned over or a second one is placed on top to distinguish the “queen” from simple pieces).
    • The queen gets the right to move any number of squares forward or backward (but only diagonally), and during the battle she can stand on a free square behind the attacked piece, if there are several of them.

    Beginner players are often interested in whether it is possible to hit back while playing with simple pieces, not queens. Here everything depends on the type of checkers: some versions assume that the pieces can only move and shoot forward, while others - in both directions, and besides, pawns of different statuses have different capabilities. For beginners, the simplest, Russian version is best suited. After a little practice, the participant, if desired, will be able to move to a difficult level, learning to play other types of checkers.

    Russians

    This variation is based on the simple rules described above. As for whether it is possible to move backwards in checkers, the Russian version assumes this possibility - simple pieces are allowed to move forward and hit in any direction. At the same time, there are no restrictions on the number of pawns captured at a time. In one move, a participant can remove two, three and, if possible, a larger number of opponent’s figures.

    Chinese

    How to play this type of checkers? There is a field for them that looks like a six-pointed star, with 6 to 10 figures on its tops. They play Chinese checkers both together and with a large number of participants, up to six people. The goal is to move your chips to the opposite end of the field. The one who has been dealt the brightest colored pieces goes first, and the rest make their moves clockwise after him.

    In one move, the player has the opportunity to move one piece in any direction. At the same time, he can jump over other people's figures when there is a free field behind them. If there is another chip behind the empty square, it is allowed to be beaten in the same move. The winner is the one who gets to the opposite end of the field first, and other participants, if desired, distribute second, third and subsequent places among themselves.

    English

    Knowing all the basic rules of the standard game, it is easy to understand how to play English checkers. They require a regular chessboard and 12 pieces for each opponent. They are placed in the same way as in the regular version of the game, filling the black cells of the first three rows from each edge of the field. The first move is made by the player with black chips. Simple pieces can only move and hit forward, and only the king is allowed to go back and only one square.

    Corners

    This variation of the game is played on a regular 8x8 board. Each participant has 9 chips. They are placed in a 3x3 square in the first corner of the field closest to the player. How to play corners? The figures need to be moved to adjacent cells vertically or horizontally, and you are also allowed to jump over the opponent’s pieces that are on free fields, if the space behind them is free. The goal of the game is to be the first to occupy the enemy's corner.

    Giveaways

    The rules of this game are similar to those in the more familiar Russian version, but the goal is different. The player needs to force the opponent to capture all his pieces or block them, that is, to deliberately expose himself to attack. Each participant must beat all the opponent’s gaming chips available for this action, even when he can beat several pieces at once in one move. The winner is the one who is the first to free himself from all his pieces.

    Chapaev's checkers

    They are played on a regular board, and each participant has eight pieces at the beginning of the game. They are placed on opposite ends of the field in horizontal rows, but if desired, the players can agree on any other initial arrangement. Everyone’s goal is to knock out all the other people’s pieces from the board, and this must be done by clicking on your checker. When a player fails to knock out any of the opponent's pieces or if he loses his piece, the turn is passed to the opponent.

    This board game is played over several rounds. After the first game, the winner goes first and places his line of pieces one square forward on the field. When the checkers come close to each other, the loser of the last game retreats one line back. The final winner will be the one who manages to kill all the opponent's checkers in this round.

    Japanese

    The field for playing Japanese checkers has a size of 19x19. Initially, players have an unequal number of chips - one receives 181 pieces. black, and the other gets 180 pieces. white. The goal of the game is to capture and control the territory of the field. The one who occupies a larger area than the opponent will be the winner. To make a move, the chip is moved to the intersection of the lines, which is called a point.

    Black makes the first move. Next to each chip, vertically or horizontally, there must be at least one free point. When a pawn or group is completely surrounded by opponent's stones, it is considered captured and removed from the field. For each captured figure and free point, one point is counted, and the winner is determined by counting these points.

    How to learn to play checkers well

    To quickly learn the rules of the game, it is recommended to practice on computer simulators. On the Internet it is easy to find a suitable type for your taste: classic, simplified options for beginners, simulators with a choice of difficulty level and the ability to bet on money, and even those where the role of an opponent is played by an animated girl with whom players are invited to play strip.

    It is advisable to choose gaming simulators where it is possible to both play the game with a computer and play with people online without registration. The first type will help you understand what general tactics are used to achieve victory and how to win the game using logical thinking. Games with real participants will provide the necessary real-life practice.

    How can you learn to play checkers well enough to emerge victorious, if not in all, then in most games? This requires your own strategy. To develop your personal winning plan and constantly win with it, you need to rely on the following recommendations from experienced players:

    • Train yourself to mentally change the position of the pieces on the field based on the planned move, thereby calculating the development of events several moves ahead.
    • Try to keep your pieces closer to the center of the board - this position is the most advantageous for moving forward and helps to play without blocking.
    • Try to make your pieces queens faster by moving them to those areas of the playing field where the enemy has fewer pieces or they are more vulnerable.
    • As far as possible, do not move the pieces of the last row from their original place for a long time - this will not allow the opponent to quickly make his pieces kings.
    • Try to move pieces in pairs and compact groups to make it more difficult for your opponent to capture them.

    How to teach a child this most interesting board game? To do this, it is important to captivate him with the process, and then he will easily master the rules and very soon become a full-fledged competitor who will always be happy to play even with an experienced adult player. To achieve this, show your child different ways to win quickly, allowing for victory and encouraging the spirit of competition. This way he will feel the taste of championship, will certainly become interested in the process and will play with passion.

    If you are planning serious training that will allow your child to successfully participate in specialized tournaments and win, then you should teach him using a different, more responsible approach. You need to practice correctly, explaining the names of moves and combinations from the very beginning, play regularly, analyzing all the tricks and features in detail, and certainly use a good tutorial.

    Video: secrets of playing checkers

    Anyone interested in learning how to play checkers should watch educational videos that clearly explain all the intricacies of the gameplay. The video will help you quickly understand the rules of this popular board game, learn common gaming tactics and learn about winning strategies that will make it easier to win.

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    Checkers, in a way, is a game of tricks, deceptive simplicity and the need to create a full-fledged attack strategy, so literally every move is important, especially the first! Why is this so important? Everything is extremely simple, with a smart approach first move in checkers may well become a guarantee of a winning game.

    How to make the first move in checkers?

    In how many moves can you completely “break” your opponent? Without a doubt, no one will deliberately lose, but purely theoretically, it is possible to “drive the enemy into a corner” after the second move, which clearly proves the need for a successful start. Let's look at a few examples.

    Example one:

    • Move 1 - cd4\hg5
    • Move 2 - bc3 - ?

    It is enough to look externally at this position of the checkers to understand that Black is automatically setting himself up for a trap and there is a huge probability of making a move to "de5".

    This is called the “blood” method and a pressing problem for beginners, since in the next few moves White will easily remove at least 1 black checker from the board.

    Example two:

    • Move 1 - ef4\dc5
    • Move 2 - fe3\cd4

    After this, the player playing as black has a huge chance to remove 2 enemy checkers at once in just one 3rd move.
    Move 3 - ce5\fh4But,

    to understand the importance of how to plan first move in checkers, it is important to pay attention to the fact that even after this, White has a huge chance to create a tough trap for Black and achieve victory.

    For example:

    • Move 4 - ce5\fd4
    • Move 5 - fg5\hf4
    • Move 6 - gc3 \ ?

    As a result, it was a successful or correctly planned first move in checkers that gave White a “beautiful” victory in just 6 moves!

    Other mistakes newbies make from the first move

    In addition, many players tend to fall into other enemy traps, among which there is a thirst for a quick victory and kings. It is always important to take into account that, by design, the first move in checkers is practically the key move in the entire game, because it is the front checkers that prevent others from moving. In addition, such an idea limits the number of options for the development of events to a minimum, and more specifically, the number of moves that a professional player can easily remember. That is why it is important to remember that the first move in checkers is the creation of not only successful attack tactics, but also personal defense.

    20 variants of moving combinations in checkers

    As was said, there is only a certain number of moves, which you can easily direct the enemy to from the very first movements. As soon as he finds himself in the scenario you planned, victory is more a matter of personal forethought and memory, because the second player will not have many options for countering. There are 20 such combinations in total, which are the first move in checkers from any side (both white and black).

    Consider a 13-move multi-move trap that, one way or another, will lead a smart player to victory.

    Move 1 – g3-f4\f6-e5

    By design, it does not “visually” foreshadow the setting of any trap, but this, without a doubt, is not the case.

    Move 2 – h2-g3 \ g7-f6

    As you can see, both players are quite careful in luring their opponent, which already complicates the process of creating a trap during the next few turns.

    • Move 3 – сЗ-b4 \ e5-d4
    • Move 4 - e3:c5\b6:d4

    Already at this point, it is noticeable that the parties are implementing their well-thought-out tactics, but for now they are playing completely on equal terms.

    • Move 5 - b4-a5 \ f6-g5
    • Move 6 - d2-e3 \ d6-c5

    Whatever one may say, White is actively playing towards his loss, which the enemy simply cannot help but use.

    Move 7 - c1-d2 \ g5- h4

    Now Black behaved extremely carelessly, but given the created arrangement of checkers, they did not have much choice.

    Move 8 - d2-nW \ e7-d6!

    Now we can make out what just happened. It is worth noting that this tactic itself had a real place in the professional game of E. Lysenko against Y. Arendt and, in its own way, is an ideal example of how important the first move is in checkers. Having made just one extremely careless move, White has already committed a deliberate defeat and all further moves will be solely to create the final meeting point. In his own way, J. Arendt with such a move made a terrible mistake, characteristic even of professionals.

    • Move 9 – c3:e5 \ h6:g5
    • Move 10 - f4:h6 \ d6:d2
    • Move 11 - e1:c3 \ c5-b4
    • Move 12 – a3:c5 \ c7-b6
    • And the final 13th move is a5-c7 \ b8:d2X

    Completion and summary

    Based on all this, we can say with confidence that the first move in checkers, like the game itself, is much more difficult than it seems at first glance. Therefore, no matter what the enemy does, it is extremely important to soberly assess all his capabilities, and if you approach the gameplay wisely, it will be possible to achieve the complete defeat of the enemy in a minimum number of moves. The main thing to remember is that you definitely shouldn’t rush into making rash moves, but you definitely need to think through your tactics correctly!

    Well, finally, remember that it is definitely impossible to achieve complete knowledge of all the tricks of checkers in a day, but you can learn, which is what you should do for the sake of your own perfection.

    Checkers is a game that originated in Ancient Egypt and has existed for more than five thousand years. In Ancient Egypt, the principle of moving checkers was borrowed from the rules for moving a chess bishop or queen.

    In the 12th century, the French improved the game, and since then checkers has acquired the form that we know today.
    Nowadays, the game of checkers is known and loved in all countries, by people of all cultures and ages. It is not surprising, because the rules of the game are clear and very simple even for a small child.

    Rules

    It is possible to learn to play checkers well. To do this, you need to study the rules of checkers in theory and then in practice. Consider a game of classic Russian checkers:

    1. The main attributes of this game are a checkers field of 64 alternating white and black (dark) squares, as well as 12 game checkers for each player. One player plays with light checkers, and his opponent plays with dark ones.
    The game is played only on the dark squares of the field.
    2.The game is designed for two players. Place the checkerboard board so that the lower left cell is dark or black, relative to the players.
    Checkers are placed by players on the three lower rows of the playing field and only on dark cells. The checkers must be the same standard shape, flat and round. It is not allowed for the size of the checker itself to be larger than the square of the field. There are two types of checkers: simple checkers, and checkers that went to Damki.
    In a simple checker, a move is a move one square diagonally along empty cells.
    A queen is a checker that has reached the last row of the field. The queen has the ability to move to any number of squares.
    3. If one of the opponents plays with white checkers, he goes first.
    4. If a player touches his checker with the possibility of moving, then he must move it.
    5. If there is an opponent’s checker on the square in front, and there is a free square behind it, the player’s checker takes the opponent’s checker. A captured opponent's checker is removed from the board and does not participate in the game.
    6. If there is a possibility of capturing the opponent’s checker, a simple move to an empty square is not allowed - it is imperative to hit the opponent’s checker. If there are several such combat options, you can choose any one.
    7. If a simple checker that has become a Queen has the opportunity to take the opponent’s checker, this Queen continues its move.
    8. The following provisions are considered to be a win of the game:
    8.1. Acknowledgment by one of the players of his loss and his statement that he is giving up.
    8.2. One of the players cannot continue the game and make a move.
    8.3. The player on the field has run out of all checkers.
    8.4. In case of violation of these rules and discipline.
    9. The game ended in a draw in the following cases:
    9.1. If winning is impossible for any of the players.
    9.2. If one player proposed a draw and the second player accepted it.
    9.3. If for fifteen moves none of the players took the opponent’s chips, and there were only Queens’ moves.
    9.4. If the same combination appears on the field three moves in a row.
    10. The game is declared invalid and starts over and, in situations:
    10.1. If the checkerboard is placed incorrectly.
    10.2. When the checkers are placed incorrectly.
    10.3. If a player does not follow the rules.
    10.4. If a player touched one checker and made another move.
    10.5. If a player removes any checker from the board without a reason.
    10.6. If the player makes a reverse move.

    Basic game tactics

    If a beginner player plays against an experienced and strong opponent, both will play by the rules, but the more experienced player will win.
    Therefore, it is very important to know the following basic tactics:
    1. Reduce all your moves to getting to Queens yourself as quickly as possible and not allowing your opponent to do this. The queen is a strong checker, capable of moving long distances, which gives many opportunities!
    2. Try to have an advantage in the number of checkers in front of the enemy.
    3. Advance your checkers to the center of the board. You need to play the game so that the opponent's checkers are located at the edge of the board. The central checkers have more opportunities to bring victory.
    4. Calculation of possible opponent's moves - they can be falsely tempting, so it is important to understand their consequences. It is very important to follow the entire course of your opponent’s game, because if you do not have time to figure out his plan in time, the likelihood of your winning will decrease.
    5. Calculate your moves several steps ahead. The more accurate your calculations are, the greater the likelihood of winning over your opponent!

    Strategies for winning at checkers

    It is important to know and be able to apply, depending on the situation, several winning strategies:

    Strategy #1: Giveaways are traps for your opponent at the beginning of the game. The essence of this strategy is to specifically sacrifice your pieces to the opponent in order to implement winning combinations in further moves.

    Strategy #2: Entry into “lyubki”: a situation in which one checker ends up between two of the opponent’s checkers with the possibility of taking one of them in the next move.

    Strategy #3: Advancement to Damki. The essence of the strategy is to break through as quickly as possible and turn a simple checker into a Queen.

    Strategy #4: Blocking an opponent is a situation in which a player could make a move and the cells are occupied by the opponent's checkers. Also called a blocking situation is the threat of losing a checker on the next move, due to the corresponding arrangement of the opponent’s pieces.

    1. Learning new checkers strategies should only be reinforced through practical play.
    2. Play with strong players, or use proven programs on your computer. There is an advantage in playing with a computer - such games can and should be saved and analyzed. This will allow you to learn from your mistakes and prevent them in the future.
    3. Take each game seriously and play carefully, to your full potential. Checkers is an intellectual game and playing mindlessly means wasting time.
    4. Treat losses as useful lessons. You should not be too upset about defeats, but look for the reasons for mistakes and draw the right conclusions.
    5. Read books and magazines on the game of checkers, take checkers tests that depict specific game situations.
    6. Sign up for a checkers club to have the opportunity to communicate with qualified and experienced mentors, coaches and athletes. The checkers club holds tournaments to improve skills and assign a sports category in checkers.

    Master Class

    You can just enjoy it, but don’t forget to take advantage of it for yourself.

    And remember the main rule - practice above all.


    Checkers is perhaps the second most popular board game in the world, second only to its older brothers - backgammon.

    The history of their origin goes back several centuries, and the first games similar to checkers existed in Ancient Egypt in 1600 BC.

    Over the subsequent years, checkers gained popularity all over the world - archaeological excavations have proven that flat figures made of amber or simpler versions made of stone were used for mental entertainment back in Kievan Rus.

    In the 12th century, they appeared on the territory of France, and two centuries later - in England, where they were actively used not only for recreation, but also for developing tactics for conducting knightly battles.

    Interesting fact! Peter the Great, a famous reformer and innovator of his time, who from a young age showed interest in developing sciences, paid special attention to checkers. There was even a special room in the palace reserved for games, in which the emperor liked to spend his free time.

    And today it is a board game beloved by many, which has become one of the most accessible and popular types of sports.

    The sport of checkers is developing all over the world:

    • Tournaments of various sizes are held annually, from regional competitions to continental world championships.
    • Clubs of amateur chess players are formed.
    • Schools for beginners are functioning and developing, where real professionals share their experience with young athletes.

    If you are fascinated by the magic of the game and you want not only to learn how to walk correctly, but also to hone your logical abilities, or you dream of teaching your child how to spend time away from the computer in an interesting and useful way, we will tell you how to play checkers correctly to win.

    So, let's look at the rules of the game of Russian checkers:

    1. The competition involves two players, each of whom has his own set of 12 pieces, white or black.
    2. The game is played on a standard 8 x 8 chessboard, rotated so that there are letters horizontally and numbers vertically.
    3. Checkers are placed only on black cells in such a way as to fill three horizontal rows on their side. This leaves two free lanes between the enemy pieces.
    4. The steps are performed one by one, with the player with the white pieces making the first move.
    5. You are only allowed to walk on the black squares of the board.
    6. If there is an empty black cell behind a checker, then it must be “killed” - the first player moves his piece to an empty square, and the opponent’s piece is removed from the board.
    7. In one move, they hit as many pieces as can be stepped over, with no limit on the number.
    8. There is a zafuk rule, according to which a player who did not notice the opportunity to “eat” the opponent’s checker must return back to his square and correctly repeat the move. This provision replaced the outdated fuka rule, in which a piece that made an incorrect step was considered “killed” and was removed from the table, but the move was not repeated.
    9. If, as a result of the game, a simple checker reaches the last horizontal line on the opponent’s side, it is turned upside down and receives the name “king” with increased opportunities for capturing the opponent’s pieces. The king can move along the entire length of the diagonal row, “eating” all the enemy pieces on its way.
    10. Both a simple checker and a queen can “hit” pieces in any direction - back and forth. But, unlike the way the king moves, a simple checker cannot make a backward move unless it is a strike move.
    11. One of the tactics of the game is to “surrender” one or more of your own pieces to gain the opportunity to make a move or for other advantages in the game.
    12. The game ends with the victory of one of the players if he “beat” all the opponent’s checkers, or a draw if the pieces on the board are placed in such a way that further moves are impossible on both sides.
    13. If there is not a single simple piece left on the board, but only queens, 15 moves are allowed, after which either the winner is determined or a draw is declared.

    Note! Other types of games may have some differences in rules. So, for example, Canadian checkers is played on a 12x12 board, and in the English version, the first move is made by the “blacks”.

    Time control

    In order to indicate the time frame, at international competitions it is customary to use several classifications of game duration:

    • Classic checkers – 1 hour per game.
    • Rapid (quick game) – 15 minutes per game.
    • Blitz (lightning game) – 3 minutes per game.

    If necessary, the judge can add a certain amount of time for each move made until the end of the game.

    Note! Similar to a chess tournament, players also keep a notation, that is, they make a record of their maneuvers, in which they abbreviate the characteristics of a move or a tactical technique.

    Glossary of terms

    As in any sports competition, checkers has its own terminology, with the help of which experienced players designate their action, the period of the game or the position of the pieces on the board.

    For beginners, it would be a good idea to understand the special expressions used by checkers players in order to learn all the subtleties and secrets of this intellectual sport.

    Term Explanation
    Attack The offensive of one of the parties
    Blockade A situation in which it is impossible to advance a checker in any direction
    Majority (majority rule) A rule accepted in some varieties of the game, in which a player is obliged, from any possible options for his move, to choose exactly the one in which his checker hits the largest number of enemy pieces
    Fork A position in which one king remains on the board against two simple checkers of the opponent
    Gambit Sacrificing your piece at the very beginning of the game to gain initiative in the game
    King The strongest piece on the board, has the ability to hit in any direction and take any number of enemy checkers
    Victim Deliberate loss of one's figure in order to obtain further benefits
    Trap A position in which opponents try to draw each other into to establish a winning position.
    Draw The result of a game in which neither the winner nor the loser is determined
    Giveaways (reverse checkers) A type of game whose end result is not the capture of all the opponent’s pieces, but the surrender of one’s own
    Position Arrangement of pieces on the board
    chop Remove the enemy's checker that is under attack and place your own in its place
    Quiet running A simple checker move, without capturing an opponent's piece
    Impact move A move in which one or more enemy pieces are “eaten”
    Wing One side of the checkers board
    Zugzwang A position in which any move only leads to a worsening of one’s own position
    Endgame Final phase of the game

    In our article, we tried to briefly and clearly talk about the most common rules used for playing checkers. But only those who take lessons from an experienced checkers player, who will gradually reveal all levels of skill, will be able to play truly well.

    Checkers is a great way to develop children early. You can play them from a very young age until old age. A set of pieces and a board can be easily purchased at any sporting goods store or educational games department.

    The cost of such a product is affordable for everyone, and the benefits brought by this intellectual game and the pleasure of winning can keep our mental abilities in good shape for a long time and add positivity to our everyday life.

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