Differences and similarities between American Checkers and international draughts:

1. Board size

In American Checkers, known also as English draughts, the board consists of 64 squares (8x8 checkerboard). On the other hand, international draughts is played on a 10x10 gameboard, which means 100 squares.

2. Number of pieces

Board size affects the number of pawns. In American checkers each player has 12 pieces (24 in total). In international draughts each player has 20 pieces at the start of a game (40 in total).

3. Which color starts the game?

In both variants one player has the light pieces (usually white) and the other plays with the dark pieces (for example black, brown, or red). But there is a big difference in who starts a game. In American checkers dark pieces start, while in international draughts the first move belongs to the player with light pieces, like in chess.

4. How to move pieces?

In both games ordinary pieces (sometimes called “men”) move diagonally forward, only on the dark squares. But when it comes to capturing an opponent’s pieces, there are some differences.

5. How to capture opponent’s pieces?

In both games capturing is mandatory, but in American checkers you can decide which of the available captures to take. In international draughts you always have to jump over the largest possible number of pieces — the so-called majority rule.

Moreover, in international draughts pieces can be captured forward and backward, while in American checkers pieces cannot capture backward. The only exception is a king.

6. King

When an uncrowned piece reaches the king row it turns into a king. In American checkers a king moves only one square at a time, but unlike a regular piece, a king can move and capture backward as well as forward.

In international draughts a king is a very powerful piece. Why? Because a crowned man becomes a so-called flying king. That means the king can move any distance along a diagonal. The same applies to jumping — a king doesn’t have to stop right after a captured piece.

Ready to see the differences for yourself? Try a game of American Checkers or switch to International Draughts and feel the flying king in action.