What is Brazilian draughts?
Brazilian draughts is international draughts on the smaller 8×8 board. Each side has 12 men on the dark squares of the three nearest rows.
Every rule is the international one: men capture backwards as well as forwards, kings fly, capturing is compulsory and you must take the most pieces, and a man that touches the far row during a capture is crowned only if the capture ends there.
With fewer pieces and a shorter board, games are quicker and the opening is less crowded than on 10×10.
Rule changes
| Rule | Standard Int'l Draughts | Brazilian draughts |
|---|---|---|
| Board | Standard Int'l Draughts10×10. | Brazilian draughts8×8. |
| Pieces | Standard Int'l Draughts20 men each on the four nearest rows. | Brazilian draughts12 men each on the three nearest rows. |
History
Brazilian draughts takes its name from Brazil, where the international rules on the 8×8 board became the usual way to play. The same rules are widely played in Russia and other former Soviet countries alongside Russian draughts.
Internationally, Brazilian draughts is organised together with Russian draughts within the FMJD's Section 64, which holds world championships on the 8×8 board.