Czech Checkers Rules
Czech Checkers (Česká dama) plays on an 8×8 board with flying kings and men that capture forward only. Capturing is mandatory and you pick the sequence freely — with one signature twist: if any of your kings can capture, you must capture with a king.
Play Czech Checkers free →The Board and Setup
The game uses an 8×8 board and only the 32 dark squares. Each player has 12 pieces (men) on the dark squares of their three nearest rows. White moves first, then players alternate.
Moving
- Men move one square diagonally forward to an empty dark square.
- Men capture forward only — a man can never jump backward.
Capturing
- You capture by jumping over an adjacent enemy piece into the empty square beyond it.
- Capturing is mandatory, and multi-jumps continue until no further capture is possible.
- King priority — the signature rule: if any of your kings can capture, you must capture with a king. A man's capture is only legal when none of your kings has one.
- Beyond king priority, the choice is free: when several capturing sequences are available, you may pick any of them — there is no rule forcing the longest line.
- Captured pieces are removed only after the full jumping sequence is complete, so you cannot jump the same piece twice in one turn.
Kings and Promotion
A man promotes to King when it reaches the far row. If it lands there in the middle of a capture sequence, the sequence ends immediately and the man crowns — it does not continue jumping that turn. Kings are "flying": they move any number of empty squares along a diagonal, and they capture by jumping an enemy piece from a distance and landing on any empty square beyond it along the same diagonal.
How to Win
Capture all of your opponent's pieces, or leave them with no legal move. Draws occur by threefold repetition, or when no progress (no capture or man move) is made for 40 moves by each side.
Know the rules and want to win more? Learn strategy in our complete Czech Checkers strategy guide and the rest of the lessons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who moves first in Czech Checkers?
White moves first, then players alternate turns.
What is king priority in Czech Checkers?
If any of your kings can capture, you must capture with a king. A man's capture is only legal when none of your kings has one. This is the signature Czech rule.
Is capturing mandatory in Czech Checkers?
Yes. Beyond king priority the choice is free: when several capturing sequences are available you may pick any of them.
Can a man capture backward in Czech Checkers?
No. Men capture forward only.
How do kings move in Czech Checkers?
Kings are flying: any distance along a diagonal, capturing from a distance. A man that lands on the far row mid-capture crowns and its turn ends immediately.
Can a king be captured in Czech Checkers?
Yes. A king can be jumped and captured like any piece.
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