Course in Draughts

Notation

The squares of the draughts board are numbered from 1 to 50. The diagram shows the way the board is numbered. In the beginning of the game blacks pieces are at squares 1 until 20, white is at squares 31 until 50.

We can write down moves now. 33 – 29 means that the piece at 33 moves to 29. After this move black has to capture 3 pieces: 35 x 22 (majority rule: you have to take the most pieces!). Piece 35 goes to 22. Because it is a capture we write down an “x” in stead of a “-“ between the numbers. White plays 29 x 27, taking 4 pieces and cleaning the board.

White performs a nice combination here with a coup Turc.

Exercise 1.1: Put the position at your board and then play the following moves:

26 – 21 17 x 46 28 x 19 46 x 14 29 – 23 14 x 29

Write down the last capturing move for white!

Exercise 1.2: Put all the pieces on your board and try to follow the moves that are written down here: In front of the moves the number of the move is written. So 1.32 – 28 means that at the first move white moves piece 32 to square 28.

1.32 – 28 18 – 23 2.33 - 29 23 x 32 3.37 x 28 12 – 18?

A question mark (?) means: a weak move or a mistake. An exclamation mark (!) means: a strong move.

This is the position that should be at your board. White can perform a combination. So you have to give away pieces and take more pieces back.