Overview

Canadian Checkers is a traditional draughts variant played on a 12x12 board with 30 pieces per player. Invented by the French settlers of Quebec, Canada (originally called “Grand jeu de dames”), it follows the same core rules as International Draughts but uses a larger board and more pieces. Players move diagonally, capture by jumping over opponent pieces, and promote pieces to flying kings upon reaching the far row. The game requires mandatory captures and maximum capture sequences.

Components

• 1 checkerboard with 12x12 squares (144 total, 72 dark squares used for play)
• 30 light pieces (one player)
• 30 dark pieces (one player)

Setup

1. Place the board so that a dark square is in the bottom-left corner for each player.
2. Each player places their 30 pieces on the dark squares of the first five rows on their side of the board.
3. Two rows of empty dark squares remain in the center between the players’ pieces.
4. Decide who plays first (dark typically moves first).

Turn Structure

On your turn, you must make one of the following moves:

1. Simple Move

Move one regular piece diagonally forward one square to an adjacent empty dark square.

2. Capture (Jump)

Jump diagonally over an adjacent opponent piece to the empty square beyond it. The captured piece is removed from the board. If further captures are available from the landing square, you must continue jumping in a multi-capture sequence.

3. King Move

A king (flying king) may move diagonally forward or backward any number of squares along a diagonal, stopping on any empty square.

4. King Capture

A king may jump over an opponent piece at any distance along a diagonal, landing on any empty square beyond the captured piece. Multi-captures may change direction.

Actions

Regular Piece Movement

• Moves diagonally forward only (one square per move).
• Captures forward or backward by jumping over adjacent opponent pieces.

King (Flying King) Movement

• Moves diagonally any number of squares in any direction (forward or backward).
• Captures by jumping over opponent pieces at any distance along a diagonal.
• After a capture, may land on any empty square beyond the captured piece.

Mandatory Capture Rule

If a capture is available, you must capture. You cannot make a simple move when a capture exists.

Maximum Capture Rule

If multiple capture sequences are available, you must choose the sequence that captures the most opponent pieces. This applies to both regular pieces and kings.

King Promotion

When a regular piece reaches the opponent’s back row (the farthest row), it is promoted to a king (crowned). However, if a piece passes through the opponent’s back row during a multi-capture sequence, it is not promoted – it must end its move on the back row to be crowned.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

A player wins by achieving either condition:

1. Capture all opponent pieces. Remove all 30 of the opponent’s pieces from the board.
2. Block all opponent pieces. Put the opponent in a position where they have pieces remaining but cannot make any legal move.

Draw Conditions

The game is a draw when:

• The same board position occurs three times with the same player to move.
• Neither player can force a win.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• No backward movement for regular pieces: Regular pieces can only move forward, though they can capture both forward and backward.
• Flying kings: Kings are extremely powerful – they can move and capture across any number of empty squares diagonally.
• Multi-capture continuation: During a multi-capture, a piece must keep jumping as long as captures are available. Captured pieces are removed only after the entire sequence completes.
• Promotion during multi-capture: A piece passing through the back row during a multi-capture is NOT promoted. It must end its move on the back row to become a king.
• Maximum capture is mandatory: When multiple capture paths exist, the player must take the path capturing the most pieces.
• Pieces removed after sequence: In multi-capture, jumped pieces remain on the board until the capturing sequence is complete, then all jumped pieces are removed simultaneously.

Player Reference

Feature	Detail
Board	12x12 (72 playable dark squares)
Pieces per player	30
Regular movement	Diagonal, forward only, 1 square
Regular capture	Diagonal, forward or backward, 1 square jump
King movement	Diagonal, any direction, any number of squares
King capture	Diagonal, any direction, any distance along diagonal
Capture	Mandatory; must take maximum sequence
Promotion	Reach opponent’s back row (must end move there)
Win	Capture all pieces or block all opponent moves