English Draughts

THE RULES OF DRAUGHTS ACCORDING TO THE 1991 EDA HANDBOOK 

The Numbered Board
At the start of the game the black pieces occupy squares 1-12 the white pieces occupy squares 21-32

DRAUGHTS BOARD AND MEN

1 The draughts board is square in shape and is divided into 64 squares of equal size,alternately light and dark in colour(technically called black and white).

2 The board is placed between the two players such that the bottom left-hand corner square is black.

3 The game is played only on the black squares, which for the purpose of reference are assigned numbers from 1 to 32.

4 Each player starts with 12 discs, or"men", all of equal size. One player has dark coloured men (called black) and the other has light coloured men (called white).Note... The colours of the men must make a distinct contrast with the colours of the squares of the board.

5 At the start of play the black men occupy squares 1 to 12 and the white men occupy squares 21 to 32.

ORDER OF PLAY

6 To start the first game the players decide by the toss of a coin which colour they will play. In subsequent games the players alternate colours.

7 The first move in each game is made by the player with the black men; thereafter the moves are made by each player in turn.

THE MOVES

8 There are fundamentally 4 types of move: the ordinary move of a man, the ordinary move of a king, the capturing move of a man and the capturing move of a king.

Ordinary Move Of A Man

9 An ordinary move of a man is its transfer diagonally forward left or right from one square to an immediately neighbouring vacant square.

10 When a man reaches the farthest row forward (the king-row or crownhead) it becomes a king, and this completes the turn of play. The man is crowned by the opponent, who must place a man of the same colour on top of it before making his own move. (It may be necessary to borrow from another set if no captured man is available for the purpose).

Ordinary Move Of A King

11 An ordinary move of a king (crowned man) is from one square diagonally forward or backward,left or right, to an immediately neighbouring vacant square.

Capturing Move Of A Man

12 A capturing move of a man is its transfer from one square over a diagonally adjacent and forward square occupied by an opponent`s piece (man or king) and on to a vacant square immediately beyond it. (A capturing move is called a "jump"). On completion of the jump the captured piece is removed from the board.

Capturing Move Of A King

13 A capturing move of a king is similar to that of a man, but may be in a forward or backward direction.

Capturing In General

14 If a jump creates an immediate further capturing opportunity, then the capturing move of the piece (man or king) is continued until all the jumps are completed. The only exception is that if a man reaches the king-row by means of a capturing move it then becomes a king but may not make any further jumps in the same turn. At the end of the capturing sequence, all captured pieces are removed from the board, in the order in which they were jumped.

15 All capturing moves are compulsory, whether offered actively or passively. If there are two or more ways to jump, a player may select any one he wishes, not necessarily that which gains most pieces. Once started, a multiple jump must be carried through to completion.

Touching The Pieces

16 Either player, on intimating his intention to his opponent, is entitled to adjust his own or his opponent`s pieces properly on their squares at any time during the course of the game.

17 If a player on his turn to move touchesa piece he must play that piece, unless hehas given an adjustment warning. If the piece is not legally playable, rule 19.2 applies.

18 If any part of a playable piece is played over a corner of the square on which it is stationed, the move must be completed in that direction.

FALSE, IMPROPER OR ILLEGAL MOVES

19 A player making a false, improper or illegal move shall be cautioned for the first offence, and the move recalled. He shall forfeit the game for any subsequent false, improper or illegal move made in that game.This applies, for example, if a player:

19.1 Omits to capture or to complete a multiple capture. (This supersedes the old "huff" rule).

19.2 On his turn to play touches an unplayable piece.

19.3 Moves a piece, either in an ordinary move or in a capturing move, on to a wrong square.

19.4 Moves an uncrowned man backwards.

19.5 When capturing, removes an opponent`s piece or pieces not in a position to be captured by that move.

19.6 When capturing, inadvertently remove:one or more of his own pieces.

19.7 Continues a capturing move through the king-row with a man not already crowned.

19.8 Moves a piece when it is not his turn to play.

20 If any of the pieces are accidently displaced by the players or through any cause outside their control, the pieces are replaced without penalty and the game is continued.

21 A player who refuses to adhere to the rules shall immediately forfeit the game.

RESULT OF THE GAME

22 There are only two possible states to define: the win and the draw.

Definition Of A Win

23 The game is won by the player who can make the last move; that is, no move is

available to the opponent on his turn to play, either because all his pieces have been captured or his remaining pieces are all blocked.

24 A player also wins if his opponent:

(1) Resigns at any point;

(2) Forfeits the game by contravening the rules.

Definition Of A Draw

25 The game is drawn if at any stage both players agree on such a result. (This usually occurs when neither side can force a win).

26 50-move rule. The game shall be declared drawn if, at any stage of the game,

a player can demonstrate to the satisfactionof the referee that both the following conditions hold:

26.1 Neither player has advanced an uncrowned man towards the king-row during the previous 50 moves;

26.2 No pieces have been removed from the board during the previous 50 moves.