Russian Draughts
Origin
There are many draughts games, all of them with their own rules. Here are explained only the specific aspects of the this game. You can learn the rules that are common to all the draughts games at the Draughts games common characteristics and rules page.
Russian draughts (Shashki) are mainly played in the countries that were part of the Soviet Republic and in Israel.
Board and pieces
8x8 draughtboard with lower right white corner. Each player starts with 12 men (white and black) placed on the first 3 rows. Dark squares are used.
Men´s moves
Same as International draughts, normal moves may be done only diagonally one square forward, and captures diagonally forwards and backwards. However, men are crowned inmediately when they reach the last row and, if this happens during a capture move, they may continue jumping backwards in the same move as a king.
Kings moves
Any number of squares, diagonally forwards or backwards.
Capture compulsory
If possible, any capture move must be made, but it doesn´t necessarily have to be the move that captures the maximum amount of pieces. When one king jumps over an opponent piece and there are several possible squares to land on, there is an higher priority for the squares from whom it is possible to go on jumping.
Particularities about the end of the game
The game ends in a draw after doing 25 king moves in a row without advancing any man nor doing any capture.
Poddavki variant
Poddavki is a give away variant of Shashki; this means that the rules are the same but the objective of the game is inverted: the winner is the player that runs out of pieces or can´t move any of the remaining pieces.
Give away versions may be played for any draughts game, but usually they are not seriously considered. In Russia, however, Poddavki is a prestigious variant and tournaments are holded the same as in the case of Shashki.
Play now
Play online with some other players
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