Italian Draughts Rules (Dama Italiana)
Italian draughts looks like American checkers at first glance: men move forward and kings move one square at a time. Two rules make it a different game. A man can never capture a king, and when you have several captures you must follow a strict order of priorities, starting with the route that takes the most pieces.
Play it on this site
Open the menu (☰), choose Rules and pick Italian. Play against the computer at three levels, or against a friend on the same screen.
Rules
Board and setup
Italian draughts uses 32 dark squares and 12 pieces per side. In the official game the board is mirrored and White moves first. The rules are symmetric, so on this site you play Black at the bottom and move first on the same board as the other 8x8 variants.
Moving
Men move one square diagonally forward. Kings move one square diagonally in any direction. Kings do not fly.
Capturing
- Capturing is compulsory.
- Men capture forward only, by jumping an adjacent enemy piece onto the empty square behind it.
- Men cannot capture kings. This applies to every jump of a multi-capture, so a man's capture stops when the next piece in its path is a king.
- Kings capture men and kings, one square at a time, forward or backward.
- A multi-capture must be completed. Captured pieces stay on the board until the move ends and cannot be jumped twice.
Which capture you must choose
When several captures are possible, apply these rules in order until one route remains (if several still remain, choose freely):
- First, take the most pieces.
- If equal, capture with a king rather than with a man.
- If still equal, take the most kings.
- If still equal, take the route that meets a king earliest.
Crowning, winning and draws
A man that reaches the far row becomes a king; if it gets there during a capture, the move ends there. You win when your opponent has no pieces left or cannot move. On this site 40 moves each with no capture and no crowning is a draw.
Differences from American checkers
| Rule | American | Italian |
|---|---|---|
| Board | 8x8 | 8x8 |
| Pieces per side | 12 | 12 |
| Capturing is compulsory | Yes | Yes |
| A started capture must be completed | Yes | Yes |
| Men capture backward | No | No |
| Kings fly (move any distance) | No | No |
| Men may capture kings | Yes | No |
| Must capture the most pieces | No | Yes |
| Further capture priority | Free choice | King captures first, then most kings, then earliest king |
| Man reaches the far row during a capture | Crowned, move ends | Crowned, move ends |
| Captured pieces are removed | At once | At the end of the move |
Strategy tips
- Treasure your first king. Enemy men cannot capture it, so only enemy kings can threaten it.
- Use your kings as shields. A king standing in front of your men cannot be taken by enemy men, which makes it a safe blocker.
- Learn the priority order. Most Italian combinations rely on forcing the opponent into one exact capture, so count pieces, then king captures, then kings taken.
- Kings are slow. With one-square kings, a lead in material is converted by patient, coordinated play rather than long-range attacks.
- Keep your back row while you can, and advance in supported pairs, as in checkers.
Frequently asked questions
Can a man capture a king in Italian draughts?
No. Men can capture only men. Kings can capture both men and kings.
Do kings fly in Italian draughts?
No. Kings move and capture one square at a time, forward or backward.
Which capture must I take in Italian draughts?
The one that takes the most pieces. If tied, a king capture beats a man capture, then the route taking the most kings, then the route that meets a king earliest.
Who moves first in Italian draughts?
White, in the official game, which uses a mirrored board. On this site you play Black and move first; the rules of play are the same.
How is Italian draughts different from American checkers?
Both have forward-only men and one-square kings. Italian draughts adds three rules: men cannot capture kings, you must take the most pieces, and ties are broken by the priority list above.
Why is the first king so important in Italian draughts?
Because men cannot capture it, a king can only be taken by enemy kings. The first player to crown often gains a lasting edge.
Other rule sets
- American checkers8x8, forward-only men, one-square kings, free choice of captures.
- Russian draughts8x8, men capture backward, flying kings, a man crowned mid-capture keeps jumping.
- Brazilian draughts8x8, men capture backward, flying kings, you must capture the most pieces.
- Spanish draughts8x8, forward-only men, flying kings, capture the most pieces, then the most kings.
- Czech draughts8x8, forward-only men, flying kings, a king must capture if it can.
- International draughts10x10, 20 pieces each, men capture backward, flying kings, capture the most pieces.
- Checkers without forced captureHouse rule for any 8x8 variant: you may skip a capture and make a normal move.
- All checkers rules and variantsCheckers Rules and Variants