Play Free Russian Draughts Online

Your turn.Captures0/0

How to Play Russian Draughts

Each side starts with 12 men on the three nearest dark ranks. White moves first. Men step one square diagonally forward and may capture forward or back. Captures are mandatory, but you may choose among them. After crowning, kings fly on open diagonals, and a man that hits the last rank during a jump becomes a king at once and may keep capturing. Pick an AI level and a seat, then start.

What Russian Draughts Is

Russian draughts, also called Shashki, sits on the same 8×8 dark-square board as English draughts. The difference is in the men: they can capture backward, kings fly, and a man that lands on the last rank during a capture sequence promotes immediately and may continue as a king.

Each side places 12 men on the three dark ranks nearest them. White opens. A man steps one diagonal square forward; captures hop an adjacent enemy in any diagonal direction and land beyond. If a capture exists you must take one, but you may choose which line to play.

It looks like sliding stones across kaya wood. In practice it is about backward takes, open king diagonals, and when to keep men back for defence. The rules page covers the fine print; if you want the feel of the game, start with the AI board above.

Russian draughts opening: 12 men a side on the three nearest dark ranks, White near the bottom

Dark Squares Only

Play on the dark squares of an 8×8 board, as in English draughts. The difference is the movement: men can capture backward, and kings fly. From move one, practise asking whether a capture exists, including a backward hop, before you push a quiet step.

8×8 dark squares12 men × 2White moves first

A Russian draughts man capturing backward, then a flying king on a diagonal

Backward Takes and Flying Kings

If any capture exists, quiet one-square moves disappear. When several captures are legal, you may choose among them. After crowning, a king flies along open diagonals. A man that reaches the last rank mid-capture becomes a king immediately and may keep jumping.

Backward capturesFlying kingsPromote mid-jump

Russian draughts AI play with difficulty settings, hints, undo, and replay

Hints Follow Your AI Level

Choose from multiple AI levels, then play as White to open or Black to reply. Hints use the same level, and undo rewinds both your move and the AI response. After the game, replay the turn when a backward take or a flying-king road was missed. All AI calculation stays in your browser.

multiple AI levelsHints and undoMove-by-move replay

32dark squares

12men a side

Backmen may capture back

Flykings on open diagonals