What is Russian draughts (shashki)?

Quick answer: Russian draughts, known as shashki, is an 8x8 variant where men can capture backward, kings fly along diagonals, and a man that reaches the last row during a jump is promoted at once and keeps capturing as a king.

Russian draughts, called shashki in Russian, is one of the most popular variants in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

The board and pieces

Shashki is played on the familiar 8x8 board with 12 pieces each, just like American checkers, but the movement rules are more powerful.

What makes it distinct

  • Men capture forward and backward.
  • Kings are flying kings with long range.
  • If a man reaches the crowning row during a capture, it becomes a king immediately and may continue jumping as a king in the same turn.

Ready to put it into practice?

Play Russian draughts

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