Ongoing events

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Upcoming events

  • Checker 64 – European Championships 3-move 2023

    12.05.2023 - 14.05.2023

    For the first time also with the patronage of EDC, will be held in Misano Adriatico (Italy), the 2nd European Championship 3-move (Men, Women, Youth), organized by FID and WCDFCheckers 64 -European Championships 3-move 2023

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  • EUROPEAN TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS

    11.06.2023 - 18.06.2023

    13th  EUROPEAN TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS 7th  EUROPEAN WOMEN’S TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS Classic, Rapid, BlitzFollonica – Italy, 12th – 18th June, 2023EC_Teams_2023_Rules_Regulations v3 2023_EC Teams 2023 Registration Form

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General rules

Draughts (or checkers) is played by two players, on opposite sides of a playing board, alternating moves. One player has dark pieces, and the other has light pieces.

It is against the rules for one player to move the other player’s pieces. The player with the light pieces makes the first move unless stated otherwise. A move consists of a player moving their piece diagonally to an adjacent unoccupied square. If the square is occupied by an opponents’ piece, it may be captured (and removed from the game) by jumping over it to the unoccupied square one square beyond the opponents piece. The playable surface consists of using only the dark squares of a board with alternating light and dark squares. A piece may only move diagonally into an unoccupied square. Capturing is mandatory in most official rules, although some people play with variant rules which make capturing optional when presented.In all variants, the player who has no pieces remaining or cannot move due to being blocked loses the game, unless otherwise stated.

Uncrowned pieces (men) move one step diagonally, and (may) capture opponents pieces by moving two consecutive steps in the same direction, jumping over the opponent’s piece on the first step. Multiple opposing pieces may be captured in a single turn provided this is done by successive jumps made by a single piece; these jumps do not need to be in the same direction but may zigzag changing diagonal direction. In English draughts men can only capture forwards, but in international draughts they may also capture (diagonally) backwards.

When a man reaches the crownhead or kings row (the farthest row forward), it becomes a king, and is marked by placing an additional piece on top of the first man, and acquire additional powers including the ability to move backwards (and capture backwards, in variants in which they cannot already do so). As with non-king men, a king may make successive jumps in a single turn provided that each jump captures an opponent man or king. Normally, men can capture men, kings can capture men, but men cannot capture kings.

In international draughts, with the flying kings rule kings can move as far as they want along unblocked diagonals. This move can (but needn’t) end by a capture in the usual way, jumping over an opposing piece to an adjacent unoccupied square. Since captured pieces remain on the board until the turn is complete, with flying kings it is possible for a king to reach a position where he is blocked from moving further by a piece he has just captured.

Flying kings are not used in English draughts, in which a king’s only advantage over a man is the ability to move and capture backwards as well as forwards.

News

  • European Veterans and Under-27 Championships 2023 – Results

    28.03.2023

    European Veterans and Under-27 ChampionshipsThe European Championships of Veteran and Under 27, which took place in Julinek, Poland, from 19th to 25th March, excellently organized by the Polish Draughts Federation (Polski Zwiazek Warcabowy) have just ended. Main Referee Bartosz Socha. …

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  • EDC Executive Board Meeting 4/2022 – minutes

    04.02.2023

    Dear Friends,here below, attached, in English, French, Ukrainian and Russian version, the EDC Executive Board Meeting 4/2022 – minutes, held on 6th December, 2022. A friendly draughts embrace to all of you.Carlo A. BordiniEDC EB Meeting 4_2022 Minutes v1_ENG EDC EB …

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  • European Championships 2023 – Calendar

    21.01.2023

    Dear National Federations,Dear Friends,Here attached the letter with the Calendar of European Championship 2023.Best Regards.2023_013 EDC 2023 CalendarCarlo A. Bordini

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  • EDC annual fee 2023 (Deadline 28th February)

    13.12.2022

    Dear Friends,during the recent EDC Executive Board Meeting, it’s been set the deadline to pay the EDC annual fee of 50,00 €, as Ordinary Member. Federations have to pay that amount by the 28th February 2023, using the following EDC bank …

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  • EDC Executive Board Meeting 3/2022 – minutes

    07.11.2022

    Dear Friends,here below, attached, in English and French version (soon also Russian and Ukrainian ones), the EDC Executive Board Meeting 3/2022 – minutes, held on 17th September 2022. A friendly draughts embrace to all of you.Carlo A. BordiniFR_EDC EB Meeting 3_2022 …

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Ladies and gentleman, let the games begin!