Brazilian vs American vs International Draughts

The differences, side by side · Updated August 20, 2026

Esta página em português: Diferenças entre as damas

These three games are all "checkers", but they play very differently. The short version: Brazilian draughts is international rules on an 8×8 board; American checkers is the simpler 8×8 game most English speakers grew up with; and international draughts is the same rules as Brazilian but on a larger 10×10 board. Here is the full comparison.

Are draughts and checkers the same thing?

Before the rules, the words — because this is the question that confuses people first, and the answer is genuinely ambiguous rather than simply yes or no.

"Draughts" and "checkers" are two names for the same family of games. Draughts is the British word, checkers the American one, and neither refers to a single game. Where it gets confusing is that each word has also picked up a narrower everyday meaning:

• To an American, "checkers" usually means one specific game — the 8×8 one with forward-only captures and kings that move a single square, properly called American checkers or English draughts.
• To a British or continental European player, "draughts" is the umbrella term for the whole family, and often points at the 10×10 international game when used without qualification.

So "are draughts and checkers the same?" has two correct answers. As names for the family: yes, identical. As names for a specific game: no — the British word usually implies a larger board and sharper rules than the American one. Every game on this site is draughts; only one of them is what an American means by checkers.

The rules side by side

Brazilian draughts vs American checkers

Same board, same twelve pieces, same starting position — then three rules change the whole game. In American checkers, men only capture forward and kings shuffle one square at a time. In Brazilian draughts, men capture backward too, kings fly across the board, and the maximum-capture rule forces the longest combination. The result is a much sharper, more tactical game where a single king can be decisive and long forced captures are common. If you are comfortable with American checkers, read the full Brazilian rules and expect to relearn your instincts about "safe" pieces — nothing behind your line is safe anymore.

Brazilian draughts vs international draughts

This one is simple: the rules are the same. Backward captures, flying kings and compulsory maximum capture apply to both. The difference is the board — international draughts is played on a 10×10 board with 20 pieces per side, while Brazilian draughts uses the familiar 8×8 board with 12 pieces. The smaller board makes Brazilian draughts faster and easier to pick up, while keeping all the depth of the international rules. You can think of Brazilian draughts as the 64-square edition of international draughts.

And then there is Turkish draughts

The three games above differ in how much pieces may do. Turkish draughts differs in something more fundamental: which direction they move at all. Pieces travel forward and sideways in straight lines rather than diagonally, they occupy every square rather than only the dark ones, there are sixteen a side, and kings sweep ranks and files like a rook in chess.

That is not a rule tweak, it is a different branch of the family tree — both branches descend from the older game alquerque, and the diagonal games are simply the branch that western Europe developed. It is worth knowing this before you try it: nothing you have learned about diagonal geometry transfers, which is exactly what makes it interesting rather than what makes it hard.

A note on Russian draughts

You may also see Russian draughts, another popular 8×8 variant with flying kings and backward captures. Its main rule difference is that a man which reaches the last row during a capture is immediately promoted and continues capturing as a king in the same move, and it has no compulsory-maximum rule. Brazilian draughts does not promote mid-capture and does enforce the maximum rule — so despite the family resemblance, the two are distinct games.

Which should you play?

• New to draughts, or want a quick game? American checkers is the gentlest start.
• Want the tactical international game without a bigger board? Brazilian draughts is the sweet spot — full international rules on the board you already know.
• Ready for the deepest version? International draughts (10×10) is the tournament standard.
• Want something that does not feel like checkers at all? Turkish draughts, for the reasons above.

One practical warning if you are moving between them: the rule that will actually cost you games is backward capture. Everything else on this page you will notice immediately — a bigger board is obvious, a flying king is obvious. A man capturing backwards looks exactly like a man, right up until it takes a piece you had written off as safe. Players coming from American checkers lose their first few Brazilian games to it almost without exception.

The second thing worth internalising is that compulsory maximum capture cuts both ways. It feels like a restriction when you are forced into a capture you did not want, and it is a weapon when you realise your opponent is under exactly the same obligation. Sacrifices in the international family work because the reply is not a choice.

All four variants are playable on Checkers Arena free against the computer or another person: American checkers, Brazilian draughts, international draughts and Turkish draughts — no signup, one click between them.

Read the full Brazilian draughts rules, the history of the game, or the FAQ.