Play Free Russian Draughts Online
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.
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.
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.
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.
32dark squares
12men a side
Backmen may capture back
Flykings on open diagonals
Common questions
How is Russian draughts different from English draughts and international draughts?
This board is 8×8 Russian draughts (Shashki): 12 men a side, White moves first. Men step one square diagonally forward in quiet play, but captures may hop forward or backward. Kings fly along open diagonals. Unlike international draughts, when several captures are legal you may choose among them; you are not forced to take the longest line or the most pieces.
I wanted a quiet step, so why will the piece not move?
If any of your men can capture, you must capture and cannot play a one-square step instead. Find which piece can jump or continue a capture, select it, then tap the landing square. A man can also sit still when both forward diagonals ahead of it are blocked.
Several capture lines are legal. Do I have to take the longest one?
No. Captures are mandatory, but you may choose any legal capture line. You do not have to take the most pieces or jump the farthest. Opponents sometimes leave a short capture to lure you into a prepared square, so scan every line before you commit.
If a man lands on the last rank during a capture, does it crown right away?
Yes. A man that reaches the last rank mid-capture becomes a flying king immediately and may keep capturing under king rules in the same turn. On a quiet move with no capture, crowning happens only when the man stops on the last rank.
How strong is a flying king, and how do you defend against one?
A king moves any distance along an open diagonal. When capturing, it does not have to sit next to the enemy piece; it can hop over one man and land on any empty square beyond, then keep jumping. Once the opponent crowns first, lone men on long diagonals are often in danger. Keep men linked, guard the back rank, and do not let a man reach the last rank for free.
When is the game a draw?
After 80 consecutive moves with no capture and no promotion, the rules call it a draw. That often happens in king-only endings where neither side can win. In an online room you can also offer a draw; if the opponent accepts, the game is recorded as drawn. If they decline, play continues.
Does the hint use the same strength as the AI level I picked?
Yes. The hint follows the AI level shown in the sidebar; it does not secretly switch to the strongest setting. On a lower level, the hint shows what that level would play. A useful habit is to choose a move yourself first, then compare with the hint and use undo to try the other line.
Can I play Black or White, and what happens if I switch sides?
Against the AI you can choose Black or White. White always moves first, so as Black you open and as White the AI plays first. Switching color mid-game starts a new game and clears the position; the site asks before it does. In an online room the host picks a side when creating the room.
If I close the page, is my AI game still there when I return?
Usually yes. Games against the AI and same-device games are stored in this browser, with separate saves for Black and for White. Change device or clear this site's data and those games are gone. Online rooms are not kept on your device; reopening the invite link after a refresh or brief disconnect usually returns you to your seat.
Can I use hints and undo when playing with a friend on one device or online?
On one shared device you can undo and use the move list and replay to talk through a line, but there is no hint so neither side gets coaching. In an online room moves are shared as soon as they are played: no hint and no solo undo. You can resign, or offer a draw to your opponent.