Brazilian draughts
A draughts variant on an 8×8 board with 12 pieces per player.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Brazilian draughts, also called Brazilian checkers, is a version of the strategy board game draughts. It uses the same rules and setup as international draughts, except the board is smaller—8×8 squares instead of 10×10—and each player starts with 12 pieces instead of 20.
The board has alternating dark and light squares, with the bottom-left square being light. Each player’s 12 pieces are placed on the dark squares of the three rows nearest them, leaving the two middle rows empty. All moves and captures are diagonal, and only dark squares are used. Unlike English draughts, pieces can capture backward as well as forward, and queens can move and capture over multiple squares in any direction. Whenever a player has a choice of captures, they must take the move that captures the most pieces.
Ordinary pieces move one square forward diagonally to an empty square. If an opponent’s piece is adjacent and the square beyond is empty, the piece must jump over it, capturing it. Multiple jumps in a single turn are allowed, forward or backward, as long as each jump continues in a straight diagonal line. The path does not require a 90-degree angle; only queens or special rules may allow turning, which is not standard for ordinary pieces. The player must choose the piece that can make the most captures. Captured pieces are removed only after the entire jumping sequence ends, and no piece may be jumped over twice.
A piece becomes a queen (crowned) if it ends its turn on the opponent’s back row—but not if it reaches that row and then must jump backward. Queens can move any number of squares diagonally and capture an opponent piece from a distance, but they must still capture the maximum number of pieces possible.
A player loses if they have no legal moves left—either because all pieces are gone or because all pieces are blocked. A game is a draw if neither player can force a win, or if the same position occurs for the third time (not necessarily in a row) with the same player to move.
For notation, each dark square is numbered 1 to 32. From the light player’s perspective, square 29 is at the left corner; from the dark player’s side, square 4 is at the left corner.
- board size
- 8×8 squares
- pieces per player
- 12
- starting rows per player
- 3
- central rows empty at start
- 2
- dark squares numbered
- 1 through 32
Lore & Background
Brazilian draughts is played on an 8×8 board with alternating dark and light squares, the lower-leftmost square being light. Each player begins with 12 pieces placed on the first three rows closest to them, only on dark squares, leaving the two central rows empty. The player with the dark pieces makes the first move, and moves are made alternately.
Reader's Guide
All moves and captures are made diagonally on dark squares only. Ordinary pieces move forward one square diagonally to an unoccupied square. Captures are compulsory: if a player can capture an opposing piece, they must do so, even if disadvantageous. Multiple jumps over opposing pieces in a single turn are allowed, forward or backward, making 90-degree angles, and the player must capture the maximum number of pieces possible. Jumped-over pieces are removed only after the entire move is completed, and the same piece may not be jumped twice. A piece is crowned a queen if it stops on the far edge of the board at the end of its turn. Queens can move multiple steps in any direction and may jump over and capture an opponent piece some distance away, but must still capture the maximum number of pieces possible. A player with no valid move loses; a draw occurs if neither opponent can win or if the same position repeats for the third time with the same player to move.
Did You Know?
- Brazilian draughts uses an 8×8 board instead of the 10×10 board of international draughts.
- Each player has 12 pieces, compared to 20 in international draughts.
- Pieces can capture backward as well as forward, unlike English draughts.
- The lower-leftmost square of the board must be light.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Brazilian draughts?
Brazilian draughts, sometimes called Brazilian checkers, is a strategy board game that follows the same basic rules as international draughts but plays on a smaller 8×8 board with 12 pieces per player instead of 20.
How does Brazilian draughts differ from international draughts?
The core rules and setup are identical, but the playing field shrinks from a 10×10 grid to an 8×8 grid, and each side fields only 12 men rather than 20.
How is the starting position arranged in Brazilian draughts?
Each player places their 12 pieces on the dark squares of the three rows closest to them, leaving the two central rows completely empty at the start of the game.
How many dark squares are used on a Brazilian draughts board?
Only the 32 dark squares are playable, and they are numbered 1 through 32 for notation purposes, with the bottom-left square being a dark one.
What distinguishes Brazilian draughts from English draughts?
In Brazilian draughts, pieces are permitted to capture backward, a rule that English draughts does not allow, giving the game a slightly more aggressive tactical character.
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