English draughts is played on the 32 white squares of a 64-square board, the squares of which are alternately coloured white and black, white and red, or in some other similar distinctive manner. There are 24 men—12 White and 12 Black.
Above is a diagram of the numbered draught-board, and it is well for the beginners to number the white squares of their draught-board in a similar manner. The best way to do this is to write the numbers on small pieces of paper and stick these on the upper left-hand corner of the squares. Then when the men are placed on the squares the numbers can still be read. It will be observed that the position of the board is the reverse of that of the chess-board, for here a black, and not a white square, occupies the lower right-hand corner. This brings what is technically called “the double corner” to the right hand of the player. The black “double corner” is formed by the squares 1 and 5; the white “double corner” by squares 32 and 28.
At the commencement of the game the Black men occupy the 3 rows of squares numbered from 1 to 12, and the White the 3 rows numbered from 32 to 21, the intervening two rows, numbered from 13 to 20, being vacant. The row 1 to 4 is Black’s crown-head, and the row 32 to 29 White’s crown-head; the square 4 being Black’s “single corner,” the square 29 White’s “single corner.” By usage in this country Black is always given the first move, which again reverses the custom observed in chess. The first move at draughts, however, gives no advantage to the player having it, whereas in chess the advantage of the first move is of some moment.
II
At draughts the men move forward diagonally from square to square. That is, a black man on 11 can move to 15 or 16, and a white man on 22 can move to 17 or 18. When a man reaches the far side of the board he becomes a King, or is crowned; that is, a second man is placed on top of him. A King moves precisely in a similar way to an ordinary man, except that he can go either backwards or forwards; that is, a King (either Black or White) on 11 can go to 7 or 8, or 15 or 16.
In capturing or taking, the capturing piece jumps over the captured piece or pieces. Supposing a Black man is on 15 and a White man on 18, whilst 22 is vacant, then the Black man can capture the White man. This he does by jumping over him to square 22, and the captured man is removed from the board. If a second White man stood on 25, and 29 were vacant, the Black man could jump over both the White men, and go to 29. The King captures in a similar manner, except that he can capture as he moves either backwards or forwards.
III
A game at draughts is won when all the pieces of one colour have either been captured, or forced into such a position that their ultimate capture is certain, or where the remaining pieces of one colour are so blocked that the player thereof cannot move any of them when it is his turn to move, and the player, who thus captures or blocks all his opponent’s men, is the winner of the game.
A game at draughts is drawn when an end game results wherein the two forces are so balanced, both in number and position, that neither side can force the capture or blocking of all the pieces of the opposite side.