In all Draughts variants, the following rules apply:

• Players take turn by moving one piece
• Pieces can move to an adjacent empty position
• An adjacent opponent piece can be captured by jumping over it (which implies the next position is available)

  

• When possible, several captures can be performed at the same round (with the same piece)

In English Draughts, the additional rules also apply:

• The board and initial position is the following:

  

• Pieces moves only on dark squares
• Simple pieces can only move forward, even for capture
• Promoted pieces, called kings, can move backward, but only to adjacent positions
• After a capture, a king must stop just after the captured piece (unless it can do another capture)
• Black starts
• Capture is compulsory
• Captured pieces are removed after all captures are done
• If a piece reaches the last line during a capture sequence, it is not promoted, unless the capture finishes on the last line
• A player who cannot play any move loses the game