|
|
Checkers Games Around the World
Pool Checkers or
Spanish Pool Checkers
The game of Pool Checkers appears
to have been derived from an old version of
Spanish or French checkers or perhaps even both
games that were once played in the southern
states during the eighteenth century.
At this
time, the checkerboard used was an 8 x 8 or
64 square board whereas the French now use a
10 x 10 gaming surface. The rules from that
period were very similar to those of Pool Checkers
today. Some variations may appear depending
upon the region in which the game was played,
but the similarities are evident. In the old
French version, maximum capture was compulsory
and though Spanish checkers were similar as
well, the checker pieces could not capture backwards.
One common characteristic to both checkers games
was the ‘flying
king’, where it could travel as
many squares as possible. Of course, this is
one of the main differences with British
Draughts, which later became American
Checkers or straight checkers.
Rules of the Spanish Pool Checkers Game:
~ The Game Board ~
This version of Spanish pool checkers, it's
played by two opponents on the dark squares
of a standard 8 x 8 checkerboard of alternating
light and dark squares which total 64 squares.
Each player has 12 regular checkers which
are both in contrasting colors.
~ Object of Spanish Pool Checkers Game
~
- The obvious game objective is to beat
the opponent’s play by using strategy
to win to outplay the other player and
thus win the checker game.
- Winning is achieved by capturing all
the opponent’s checkers or by preventing
the player from making any further moves
with his/her checkers.
~ The Starting Position ~
- The checkers players set the board squarely
between them so that each has a single
dark corner on his/her left and a dark
double corner on the right.
- The opponents place their checkers on
the first three rows closest to them.
- The player with the dark checkers begins
the game with the first move, and then
they alternate with each move thereafter.
~ Game Moves & Captures ~
- Each opponent moves his/her single checkers
in a forward diagonal direction only to
an adjacent empty square one space at a
time.
- To capture the opponent’s checker(s),
each player must jump over the piece(s) to the
unoccupied square diagonally adjacent.
- Capturing is mandatory in Spanish pool
checkers.
- Checkers may jump both forward and backward
for as long as there are opposing checkers
in the diagonal path and empty squares
in between.
- However, neither player may jump over
his/her own checkers, nor may they jump
over the same checker more than once.
~ Crowned to become a Flying King ~
- When a player reaches the opponent’s
far or King row, the checker is crowned
to become a king.
- It only becomes a king if the move terminates
at the king row, whether through a single
move or jump.
- If the checker reaches the king row through
a capturing sequence, but can continue the
jump away from the last row, then it must
complete the jump and is not crowned king.
- Once the checker becomes king, the opponent
must crown the checker with another and
then the turn moves to the opponent once
he/she has crowned the man.
~ Flying King Moves & Captures ~
- Kings are called ‘flying
kings’ because they can
move forward or backward on any number
of squares in a diagonal sequence to
an unoccupied space.
- Pool Checkers Kings may also capture
from any distance along this diagonal line
by jumping forward or backward over the
opponent’s
checkers with at least one empty square
between the checkers.
- The capturing king continues the jump
as long as there are checkers and empty
spaces in between, either on the same diagonal
line or by making a right angle turn onto
another diagonal.
- Kings must not jump over their own checkers
and must not jump over any checker more
than once.
- If an opponent has the choice of different
moves in the capturing sequence, then
he/she may choose whichever path is the
best; however, once a path has been chosen,
the player must continue the capture to
make all the possible jumps in that sequence.
- A player may not choose to leave one
or more opposing checkers uncaptured if
he/she can make a capturing jump.
- A “huff” of
a checker is no longer permitted for failure
to jump a proper capturing sequence, though
it was in past pool checkers rules.
- If an incorrect move is made, the player is not
penalized but is required to retract the move made
and make a correct move in its place; if at all
possible, the new move should be made with the same
checker that made the incorrect move.
- Until all capturing jumps are completed
and the player’s hand is removed
from the king or man are the captured checkers
removed from the checkerboard.
~ Win or Draw ~
- A pool checkers win is achieved if one
player has either captured all of his/her
opponent’s
checkers or successfully blocked any other
moves by the opposition.
A draw is the result if:
- Both players agree to this decision.
- If the same playing position is encountered
three times on the board.
- If there are three kings against one
lone king with no other checkers on
the board, then the player with the three
kings must achieve the win within thirteen
moves, even if the fourteenth move would
result in a capture, or the result is
also a draw.
- Either player can forfeit the game
at any time and this will result in
a win for the opponent.
- If either opponent fails to follow
the Spanish checkers game rules, the
result will also be a win for the other
player.
- A player loses if his/her time limit
has expired before all moves have been
made.
~ Time Limits ~
- Time limits may be set for regular pool
checkers games as well as tournament play.
- These may be based on a fixed amount
of time given for each move in the game.
- Less time may be allowed for situation
in which there is only one possible capturing
move.
- Time limit may be given for a fixed number
of moves, regardless of the time used
during these moves; when the given number
of moves have been made by each player
but the allotted time has not been used,
an additional time allotment and moves
is given to each opponent until the end
of the checkers game.
|
|
