Russian DraughtsRussian Draughts is a strategic board game and a popular variant of checkers, also known as Shashki. Played on an 8x8 board, your goal is to capture or block all of the opponent's pieces. This free-to-play browser game challenges you to think several moves ahead, using mandatory capture rules to your advantage.
While it looks like standard checkers, Russian Draughts has a few key rule changes that create a unique strategic depth. All pieces move and capture diagonally forward. The most important rule is that captures are mandatory. If you have an opportunity to jump an opponent's piece, you must take it.
This forces you to constantly evaluate the board for forced moves, both for yourself and your opponent. You can often use this rule to set traps, forcing your opponent into a capture that leaves them in a vulnerable position. Multi-jump captures in a single turn are also possible and must be completed.
In Russian Draughts, promotion is a powerful goal. When one of your regular pieces, called a 'man', successfully reaches the farthest row on the opponent's side of the board, it is crowned and becomes a 'King'.
A King gains a massive upgrade in movement. Unlike a man, a King can move any number of empty squares diagonally, both forwards and backward. This 'flying' ability allows a King to control large portions of the board, making it a critical asset for winning the endgame.
The biggest strategic shift from the more common English or American checkers is the mandatory capture rule. This single change transforms the game from a slow, positional battle into a more aggressive and tactical contest. You can't simply ignore a capture to maintain a defensive formation.
Another major difference is the power of the King. In English Draughts, a King can only move one square at a time. The flying King in Russian Draughts is a far more potent threat, capable of long-range attacks and controlling diagonals much like a bishop in chess.
You can play Russian Draughts for free directly in your web browser. There's nothing to download or install, allowing you to start a game instantly. Because it's an HTML5 game, it runs on most devices and can be accessed on school or work networks that might block other gaming sites.
The goal in Russian Draughts is to win by capturing all of your opponent's pieces or by blocking them so they have no legal moves left. This is a mouse-controlled game. To move a piece, use a left click to select it. All of its possible moves will be highlighted on the board. Click again on the desired destination square to complete your move. Players take turns moving one piece at a time. Your basic pieces, or 'men', move one square diagonally forward. You capture an opponent's piece by jumping over it into the empty square directly behind it. If a capture is available, you must make that move. If you get a man to the final row on the opposite side of the board, it gets promoted to a 'King'. A King is a powerful piece that can move any number of squares diagonally in any direction, making it a major threat.
Force Bad Trades - Set up mandatory captures for your opponent that will leave their pieces in a worse position. Control the Center - Pieces in the middle of the board have more options and influence over the game. Rush for a King - Prioritize getting at least one piece to the back row. A King can often turn the tide of the game single-handedly. Think About Captures - Before you move, always check if your move creates a mandatory capture opportunity for your opponent. Trade Pieces Wisely - Don't be afraid to sacrifice one of your men if it leads to a better board position or allows you to create a King. Keep a Formation - Avoid leaving single pieces isolated and unsupported, as they are easy for the opponent to trap and capture.