Brazilian Draughts FAQ

Common questions, answered · Updated August 20, 2026

Esta página em português: Perguntas frequentes

Quick answers to the questions people ask most about Brazilian draughts. For the full detail, see the rules and the differences pages — or just play a game.

What is Brazilian draughts?

Brazilian draughts (jogo de damas) is a checkers variant played on an 8×8 board with the international rules: men capture both forward and backward, kings fly any distance along a diagonal, and you must always take the maximum capture.

It is the most popular board game of its kind in Brazil, and the easiest bridge between the checkers most English speakers know and the 10×10 game played at world championship level. Nothing about the board or the setup changes — only three rules do, and all three make the game sharper.

How many pieces are in Brazilian draughts?

12 per side, on the dark squares of the three rows nearest each player — exactly the same starting position as American checkers. If you can set up a checkers board, you can set up this one.

How is Brazilian draughts different from American checkers?

Same board, pieces and starting position, but three rules differ: men capture in all four directions, kings are flying, and maximum capture is compulsory. See the full comparison.

The practical effect is bigger than three bullet points suggest. Backward captures mean no piece is ever safe just because it has slipped past an enemy man; flying kings turn promotion into the central goal of the game; and compulsory maximum capture means your opponent's reply can often be forced several moves in advance. Combinations are shorter to set up and far more punishing to miss.

Is Brazilian draughts the same as international draughts?

The rules are the same; the board differs. International draughts is played on a 10×10 board with 20 pieces per side, while Brazilian draughts uses an 8×8 board with 12 pieces. Brazilian draughts is essentially international rules on the smaller board.

That makes it the ideal preparation for the 10×10 game: everything you learn about backward captures, flying kings and maximum capture transfers directly, and only the size of the board changes.

Who moves first in Brazilian draughts?

Red moves first here, and the two players then alternate throughout. There is no double move and no option to pass — if it is your turn you must move, and if a capture is available you must capture.

Can men capture backward in Brazilian draughts?

Yes. A man moves forward only, but it may capture in any diagonal direction, including backward — see the capturing rules.

This one rule causes most of the losses among players arriving from American checkers, where a man that has passed an enemy piece is safe from it forever. Here it is not. Check both diagonals behind each of your men, not just the two in front.

What is a flying king?

A king moves any number of empty squares along a diagonal, in all four directions, and captures from a distance — landing on any empty square beyond the piece it takes. One king can dominate the board.

Compare that with an American checkers king, which moves a single square and is worth roughly one and a half men. A flying king is worth far more, which is why the race to promote is the strategic centre of the game rather than a late-game bonus.

What is the maximum-capture rule?

When several captures are available you must play the one that takes the most pieces. You cannot pick a shorter capture. If two lines tie for the most, you may choose between them.

It cuts both ways, and that is what makes it interesting. Your opponent has no more choice than you do, so a sacrifice that creates one long capture effectively selects their next move for them — the basis of almost every combination in the international family of rules.

When is a man promoted to a king?

When it finishes its move on the far row. If it only passes across the last row during a capture and keeps going, it is not crowned — promotion needs the last row to be the final square.

This catches people out in both directions: a man that lands on the back row mid-capture keeps capturing as a man and cannot use a king's reach, and a capture sequence that would end there is sometimes worth choosing purely to get the crown.

How do you win at Brazilian draughts?

You win when your opponent has no legal move on their turn — either because you have taken all their pieces or because everything they have left is blocked. Blocking is a genuine winning method, not a curiosity, and it is worth looking for when you are behind on material.

Can a game of Brazilian draughts end in a draw?

Yes. A game is drawn when the same position occurs three times, or after a long run of quiet moves with no capture and no man advancing. Both rules are enforced automatically here, so an endgame that neither side can win ends rather than continuing forever.

Is Brazilian draughts harder than American checkers?

Tactically, yes — noticeably. It is not harder to learn: the board is identical and there are only three rule changes. But those three make the game far less forgiving, because a single missed backward capture or miscounted sequence usually costs material immediately rather than gradually.

If you want to see the difference for yourself, play a few games against the computer on easy and count how often a capture appears from a direction you were not watching.

What is Brazilian draughts called in Brazil?

Simply damas, or jogo de damas. A crowned piece is a dama — the same word as the game — and an ordinary piece is a pedra. We have a Portuguese-language version of this page, including the full rules in Portuguese.

Can I play Brazilian draughts online for free?

Yes — free in your browser with no signup, against the computer on three levels or against another person. Nothing to download and no account needed. Start a game.

Can I play Brazilian draughts against other people online?

Yes. Send a friend a private invite link, challenge anyone you see in the lobby, or post an open challenge and come back when somebody has accepted it. None of the three needs an account, and the result counts towards your Elo rating.