DUEL / ACADEMY

Learn to play Russian checkers

Captures, kings and combinations. Learn the rules and tactics on the board.

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LESSON 1 OF 12 · 2 min

The first diagonal

Goal · Make a quiet move with a man

White to move

Tap a piece, then its destination square.

How to solve

When no capture is available, a man moves one diagonal square forward into an empty square. Move the white man from c3 to d4. It cannot move backward without capturing.

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From rules to your own ideas

Checkers

These lessons teach Russian checkers on an 8×8 board. A man moves one diagonal square forward without capturing, but can capture backwards too. When a capture is available, a quiet move is not allowed.

A king moves along long diagonals. You must finish a capture sequence; a man reaching the final rank during a capture becomes a king immediately and continues with king rules. When several captures are possible, you may choose any complete path — Russian checkers does not require the maximum number of captures.

Understand the rules
Learning path

Course contents

All lessons · 12 lessons
  1. 01
    The first diagonalMake a quiet move with a manBasics · 2 min
  2. 02
    Mandatory captureJump over an opponentBasics · 2 min
  3. 03
    A man captures backwardNotice the capture behind youCaptures · 2 min
  4. 04
    Becoming a kingReach the final rankKings · 2 min
  5. 05
    A king’s freedomChoose a useful diagonal squareKings · 2 min
  6. 06
    The flying kingCapture across the diagonalKings · 3 min
  7. 07
    Crowned during a captureContinue the sequence as a kingCombination · 4 min
  8. 08
    Two captures in one moveKeep jumping while a capture remainsCombinations · 4 min · Plus · free preview
  9. 09
    Captures come before quiet movesCheck the whole board before choosing a pieceBasics · 3 min
  10. 10
    You may choose a shorter captureRussian draughts does not require taking the mostCombinations · 4 min
  11. 11
    A king changes diagonalFind the turn inside a forced sequenceCombinations · 4 min
  12. 12
    Win without the final captureLeave the opponent with no legal movesEndgame · 3 min

How to learn

  1. 01

    Read the goal and find the piece on the board. Tap it, then its destination: dots show legal moves.

  2. 02

    Each exercise has a specific goal. A legal move may not solve it — try again or open the hint. For a checkers capture sequence, choose the final square of the whole path.

  3. 03

    After solving, read the explanation. Repeat the move without a hint and describe its idea in your own words; then move to the next lesson.