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On the Evolution of Draughts Variants

evolution of draughtsThis 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.

PrefaceGridsHistoryEvolutionary 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
Contact Draughts variants
  • Fanorona
  • Bushka
Column Checkers variants
  • Bashni
  • Lasca
  • Stapeldammen
  • Emergo
  • Grabber
Hexagonal variants
  • Hexdame
  • Pommel
  • Pskovskiye Shashki
  • Hexemergo

A Guide to Checkers Families and Rules
Download an extensive survey of traditional checkers variants compiled by Sultan Ratrout (pdf).

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