# Checkers (English draughts / American checkers) — Rules (canonical reference)

We implement **English draughts**, the standard 8×8 "checkers" ruleset.
This file is what the engine implements.

## Sources

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_draughts

## Variant chosen

Standard tournament rules: **jumping is mandatory**, no flying kings, a man
crowned mid-jump stops there. We skip the obsolete "huffing" rule and casual
optional-capture variants. Draws by agreement aren't enforced by the engine —
hotseat players can simply stop (no threefold/40-move automation).

## Board & setup

8×8 board, play on the 32 dark squares only. 12 men per side on the dark
squares of the three rows nearest each player. **Black moves first.**
Black starts on top (moving down the screen), Red on the bottom (moving up).

## Movement

- A **man** moves one square diagonally forward to an empty dark square.
- A **king** moves one square diagonally in any direction (no flying kings).

## Capturing

- A piece jumps diagonally over an adjacent enemy piece to the empty square
  directly beyond. Men jump forward only; kings jump any direction.
- **If any jump is available, the player must jump** (a simple move is illegal).
- **Multi-jumps**: if the jumping piece can jump again from where it lands, it
  must continue — all jumps in the chosen sequence must be taken. The player
  may choose *which* jump/sequence when several exist.

## Crowning

A man reaching the far row is crowned king and the move ends immediately —
even mid-jump; a just-crowned king may not continue jumping that turn.

## Game end

A player loses when they have no pieces left **or no legal move** on their
turn (blocked). No enforced draw rule (see variant note above).