On the Evolution of Draughts Variants

This is a work in progress, so don't shoot the workers. Comments and suggestions are welcome, nitpicking is not.
The authors are Benedikt Rosenau and Christian Freeling, both of whom believe that Draughts is in a constant state of evolution, and that the current state is one where the main variants - Checkers and International Draughts - got stuck.

Draughts players are largely in denial of this. They wallow in 'corrective measures' such as additional rules, different counting, blitzgames and the like. As if band-aids would help. Most in denial are those who would have the problem arise from the 'mentality of the players' rather than from the structure of the game. It does not.

Preface

Grids

History

Evolutionary pressure

Draughts variants
Traditional variants International Draughts Checkers (Anglo-American) Shashki (Russian Draughts) Brazilian Draughts Canadian / Sri Lankan Draughts Dama (Spanish / Portuguese Draughts) Dama (Italian Checkers) German Checkers Thai Checkers Frisian Draughts Dama (Turkish Draughts) Tama (Armenian Draughts) Tama (Ossetian Draughts)	African/Hawaiian traditionals Zamma Kharbaga Yoté Konane (Hawaiian actually)	Modern variants Dameo Croda Constitutional Draughts Killer Draughts Loca Harzdame