Hi everyone, I'm back ... at least for the moment ay :)
Hi everyone, I'm back ... at least for the moment ay :)
Member since:18.02.2005
Reviews:39
Members who trust:10
Checkers, or as it is known in the UK, Draughts is a strategy game that is very similiar to chess and that has amazingly been around for a very, very long time. Checkers is somewhat like an art really. In order to be really good at it, one must know the 'tricks of the trade', which can only be acquired by playing the game a lot, and by reading checkers literature too. It is once these tricks are found out, that checkers really becomes a beautiful and amusing game.
A small history lesson ==================
It seems that Checkers could have been played as far back 1600 BC by the Pharoahs in Egypt. There are also references to the game in the Dialogues of Plato and in Homers 'The Odyssey'. However, modern draughts seems to have started in Spain with the publications of Anton Torquemada,
as 'recently' as 1547.
The first world champion in the game was Andrew Anderson who had earned his title by beating James Wyllie in 1847...the latter would later become one of the greatest ever Checkers players.
The Rules of the Game ==================
Draughts is played on a checkered board, 8 boxes by 8 boxes. The draughtsmen (which is what the pieces are called) are situated on the darker squares of the first three rows of either side of the board. That leaves two rows between the draughtsmen of each player.
The draughtsmen can move one square each turn and can only move diagonally. In order to capture the other player's draughtsmen, there must be one square free behind the opponent's draughtsmen. If a capture can be made, then it has to be done, no matter the consequences for either player. In fact, this is many times used to capture many pieces in one move.
When one of your pieces reaches the first row of your opponent's side, then the piece is 'promoted'. That is, it becomes a king. The difference between a king and a normal piece is that whereas a king can move in all directions, a normal piece can only move forwards, even when capturing.
Finally, the game is won when your opponent either has no more pieces or else when your opponent cannot move any of the pieces he or she has left. Unlike some other games, checkers can also be drawn. Games are drawn when neither player is able to force a win, either through a lack of superiority in material or position.
Variations of the game ==================
Nowadays, there are many variations of the game. Probably, the most popular variations are: Spanish Draughts, Italian Draughts and Polish Draughts. I'm not going to keep on explaining how each of these are different because they are irrelevant really. However its always nice to know, that the 'British and American' way' isn't the only way :).
Why I like the game ===============
I'm a real big fan of strategy board games. I love games like chess, checkers, stratego and so on. The main reason I think Draughts is a beautiful game though, is because even if you are at a disadvantage (materially), you can still beat the crap out of your opponent if you're good enough. This is due to the enormous number of strategies and tricks that exist.
When Draughts is played by professionals, they divide the game into three bits : the opening, the mid-game, the ending. There are hundreds of strategies to go about with each part of the game, forcing each player to keep his full attention on the game.
What I dislike about the game ========================
Unfortunately, the game has been around for a very long time. This means that most strategies that were invented, have some sort of counter. This means that most games that are played (by pros) end up in draws. In fact, to win a title, there used to be 40 match games, in which only 2 or 3 used to be actually won!
To counter this problem, the 2 and 3 move restrictions were invented. This means that the first 2 or 3 moves of the game are drawn from a ballot beforehand and the match continues from there.
Checkers Material ==============
The checkers boardgame can probably be purchased from your local toyshop. You can also find some boards at EBay and from Amazon for about £5.99. There are also countless books written on draughts which include info on strategies and the like. You can probably find some related books at your local library too. I am currently reading 'The Compleat Draughts Player' of Irving Chernev and it is a top checkers book. It is probably out of print now so you will have to find one second hand. I also wish to mention that anyone who is interested in checkers can play at www.flyordie.com for free.
Hope you enjoyed my review and thanks for reading :) jeff
Pictures of Checkers
Initial Set-up of Board
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Advantages: All in the brain, you don't necessarily need to be a quick thinker, but certainly a deep one. Disadvantages: Those of you that have a short attention span, then this is not for you.
Tessa 28.09.2000 ·
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Go
Jun 11th, 2005
very helpful by (100%):
