|
Checkers
Main Page
Checkers Stategy
Checkers of
Past Eras
Checkers Champions
of the 20th Century
Checkers Champions
of The 21st Century
The Future of Checkers
Checkers Around
The World
Checkers Variations
Fundamentals of Checkers
Checkers Photo Album
Checkers Art
The Sport of Checkers
Checker Postcards
Checkered Past
Afternoon Checkers
Checkers
Glossary
Checkers Terms
Literature on Checkers
Checkers Poems
Checkers Strategy
Checkers Words of Wisdom
Wiswell's Checkers Proverbs
Checkers Philosophy
Angels
Pottery
|
Checkers Around the World
Spanish Checkers ~ Damas Espanola
 
Spanish Checkers or Damas Espanola is one of the oldest checkers games or one of the first original versions of the game to be discussed in a literary work. In 1547, a Spanish writer, Anton de Torquemada, wrote a book about the first checkers played with rules very similar to those we use in the 21st century. Spanish Checkers or Damas Espanola is played in Portugal, parts of South America, the Caribbean and in Northern Africa ~ Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. The rule set is very similar to Brazilian Checkers with the difference that the checkers cannot capture backward, the checkerboard is inverted and there is a priority capture rule that exists.
Rules of the Game:
~ The Game Board ~
Damas Espanola is played by two checkers opponents on the dark squares of a standard 8 x 8 checkerboard consisting of 64 light and dark alternating squares. Each player uses 12 checkers of contrasting colours.
Object of the Game
- The game objective is to outanoeuvre the opponent’s play by preventing the player from making any further moves by either capturing all the checkers or by blocking remaining pieces from further moves on the checkerboard.
- If this is achieved, then the player wins the game.
~ Starting Position ~
- The checkerboard is positioned by the opponents so that it is situated squarely between them and turned so that there is a dark single corner on the right and a dark double corner on the left of each player; this board format is inverted to other checkers games.
- Each opponent places the checkers on the dark squares of the first three rows that are nearest to him/her.
- The player with the light checker pieces commences the game with the first move and thereafter, the turns alternate between the opponents.
~ Game Moves & Captures ~
- Each opponent moves his/her single checkers or men diagonally forward only one square at a time to an unoccupied space.
- At no time during the game may either player make more than one move with his/her checkers.
- Priority capture is compulsory.
- A player captures an opposing checker by jumping over the piece on a diagonally adjacent square to an empty square immediately beyond.
- Neither opponent may capture backwards but may only jump in a forward direction and may continue the jumping sequence as long as they encounter opposing checkers adjacent to empty squares in between.
- Opponents may not jump over their own checkers at any point in the game.
~ Crowned to become a King ~
- When a player’s checker reaches the opponent’s far and king row, whether by means of a jumping sequence or a simple move, the checker becomes a king and the move ends there.
- The king is then crowned by the opponent whose row the checker landed on; a second checker of the same colour is placed on top of the first to signify the kingship.
- Once the king has been crowned, the play may then make his/her move, but not before.
~ King Moves & Captures ~
- Kings in Spanish Checkers are also ‘flying kings’ in that they can move in a forward or backward diagonal direction any number of squares to an empty space beyond.
- Capturing by kings takes place from any distance along a diagonal path by jumping forward or backward over an opposing checker or king as long as there is at least one unoccupied square on that path beyond the opposition.
- The capturing king may follow a jumping sequence either on the same diagonal line or by changing to another diagonal by means of a right angle turn.
- Kings must never jump over their own checkers and may not jump over the opponent’s man or king more than once.
- Capturing by the king checker is mandatory so that whenever there is an opposing checker in its path, the king must jump and capture it.
- If there is more than one way in a jumping sequence, then the player must choose the path that leads to capturing the greatest number of opposing checkers, whether men or kings.
- A “huff”of a checker for failure to jump properly is not permitted, but the incorrect move must be retracted and the correct play must be made with the man or king that was originally moved, if at all possible.
- Neither player removes captured checkers from the checkerboard until all jumps in a capturing sequence have been made and the player’s hand has been removed from the checker or king.
~ Win or Draw? ~
- The winner of Damas Espanola is the opponent who has successfully prevented the other player from being able to make any further moves by either capturing all his/her checkers or by blocking the existing pieces so that no other moves can be made.
- The game may end in a draw if both players agree to this outcome, or if the same position is encountered three times during the game.
- When one opponent has three kings and the other opponent has only one king, the player with the three kings must win the game by the fifteenth move or it ends in a draw, even if the sixteenth move would end in a capture.
Portuguese Checkers ~ Verificatores Portuguese
 
Jogo dos Verificadores Portuguese (the game of Portuguese checkers) has the same rules as Damas Espanola.
This version of checkers is very similar to Brazilian Checkers. It is played on an 8 x 8 checkerboard consisting of 64 alternating light and dark squares. Each player uses 12 checkers apiece of contrasting colours. The checkerboard is positioned squarely between the two players and turned so that a dark single corner is on the player’s right and a dark double corner is on the player’s left side. Capturing is compulsory but if there are several capturing sequences, the player must choose the jumping sequence that captures the most checkers. If, however, there are still other sequences, the opponent must choose the one that will capture the most kings. Once a checker is crowned, it becomes a ‘flying king’and follows the same rules as for Spanish Checkers.
~ Starting Position ~
Portuguese Checkers is a variant of the original checkers family and is enjoyed in numerous countries around the world as much as the different versions that exist in other countries.
|
|
CHECKERS CHEST
Two Player