What is a flying king?

A king that moves any number of squares along a diagonal, like a bishop in chess. It captures by jumping a piece at any distance along the diagonal and may stop on any empty square beyond it.

How is it different from classic checkers?

Ordinary pieces play exactly as in classic checkers: forwards only, 8×8, 12 each. Only the kings differ: in classic checkers they move one square, here they fly.

It is the common form of draughts in Tanzania, known there as drafti, and is played across East Africa.

Do I need an account?

Yes, a free Ganzaa account, so your levels and wins are saved. Anyone can read the rules and the leaderboard without signing in.

Flying Kings Checkers: Tanzanian Draughts Online

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Get ready!

How to play

1. Move

Tap one of your pieces, then a green dot. Pieces move one square diagonally forward.

2. Capture

Jump over an opponent's piece to take it. If you can capture, you must, and keep jumping while you can.

3. Crown a king

Reach the far row to become a king, which moves backwards too. On Flying kings and International, kings slide far.

4. Climb the levels

Beat a level without undo or hints to open the next, from Beginner up to Master.

About flying kings checkers

Flying kings checkers is the 8×8 draughts played in Tanzania, where it is called drafti. Ordinary pieces move and capture forwards only, as in classic checkers, but a king flies: it moves any distance along a diagonal and can capture a piece far away, landing on any empty square beyond it.

Capturing is compulsory and a capture continues while the same piece can keep jumping, but when there is a choice you may pick any capture. A piece that reaches the far row becomes a king and its move ends there.

Flying kings make the endgame sharp: one king can sweep the board. Play it against the computer at six levels, with undo and hints while you learn; a level opens only after a win without them.

How to play checkers: the rules

Checkers, also called draughts, is played by two players on the dark squares of a chequered board. You move diagonally, capture by jumping over your opponent's pieces, and win when your opponent has no piece left or cannot move. Ganzaa has three rule sets; here is each one in full.

Flying kings 8×8

8×8 · kings slide far

The board is 8×8. Each player starts with 12 pieces on the dark squares of their first 3 rows.
Pieces move one square diagonally forward, onto an empty dark square.
Capture by jumping over an opponent's piece to the empty square just beyond it. Ordinary pieces capture forwards only.
If you can capture, you must. After a capture, keep jumping with the same piece while you can.
When there is a choice of captures, you may pick any of them.
A piece that reaches the far row becomes a king.
Kings are flying kings: they move and capture any distance along a diagonal, forwards and backwards, and may stop on any empty square beyond the piece they take.
You win when your opponent has no piece left or can't move. The same position three times, or 25 moves each with no capture and no ordinary piece moved, is a draw.

International 10×10

10×10 · dames

The board is 10×10. Each player starts with 20 pieces on the dark squares of their first 4 rows.
Pieces move one square diagonally forward, onto an empty dark square.
Capture by jumping over an opponent's piece to the empty square just beyond it. Ordinary pieces may capture forwards AND backwards.
If you can capture, you must. After a capture, keep jumping with the same piece while you can.
When there is a choice, you must take the route that captures the most pieces.
A piece that ENDS its move on the far row becomes a king. Passing through it during a capture is not enough.
Kings are flying kings: they move and capture any distance along a diagonal, forwards and backwards, and may stop on any empty square beyond the piece they take.
You win when your opponent has no piece left or can't move. The same position three times, or 25 moves each with no capture and no ordinary piece moved, is a draw.

Classic 8×8

8×8 · kings move one step

The board is 8×8. Each player starts with 12 pieces on the dark squares of their first 3 rows.
Pieces move one square diagonally forward, onto an empty dark square.
Capture by jumping over an opponent's piece to the empty square just beyond it. Ordinary pieces capture forwards only.
If you can capture, you must. After a capture, keep jumping with the same piece while you can.
When there is a choice of captures, you may pick any of them.
A piece that reaches the far row becomes a king.
Kings move and capture one square at a time, forwards and backwards.
You win when your opponent has no piece left or can't move. The same position three times, or 25 moves each with no capture and no ordinary piece moved, is a draw.

Rule set	Board	Pieces each	Ordinary pieces capture	Kings	Must take the most
Flying kings	8×8	12	Forwards only	Fly any distance	No, any capture
International	10×10	20	Forwards and backwards	Fly any distance	Yes
Classic	8×8	12	Forwards only	One square at a time	No, any capture

Rule set

Board

Pieces each

Ordinary pieces capture

Kings

Must take the most

Flying kings

8×8

Forwards only

Fly any distance

No, any capture

International

10×10

Forwards and backwards

Fly any distance

Yes

Classic

8×8

Forwards only

One square at a time

No, any capture

Tips to win at checkers

1. Hold the centre

Pieces in the middle of the board reach both sides and are hard to trap; pieces on the edge have half the moves.

2. Keep your back row

Pieces left on your first row stop your opponent crowning. Move them last.

3. Move together

A piece on its own is easy to capture. Advance pieces side by side so each one guards the next.

4. Look for the forced capture

Capturing is compulsory, for both players. Offer one piece and your opponent must take it, which can open a double or triple jump for you.

5. Trade when you are ahead

With more pieces, swap one for one: every exchange makes your lead count for more.

6. Crown a king, then use it

A king moves backwards too, and in International and Flying kings it crosses the whole board in one move.

CheckersFlying kings checkers (Tanzanian draughts)

1. Who do you want to play?

2. Which rules?

3. Pick a level

4. Who moves first?

5. Board

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