Frisian draughts
a wild form of checkers
Introduction
This form
of checkers is still played in Holland, and originally derives from the province
Friesland. In Frisian draughts the objective is to capture all your
opponent's pieces (draughts and wolves).
Pieces move
by sliding diagonally forward to an adjacent empty square or by jumping over an
enemy piece to a vacant square on the other side. Jumping over a piece captures
it. Capturing is mandatory and you must keep jumping and capturing as long as
it is possible. Draughts capture in all directions, also orthogonally, on
squares of the same colour. They promote to wolves on the back row (the Frisian
name for the King is "wolf"). Wolves may move forwards or backwards on
the diagonals. They capture in all directions (also orthogonally, on squares of
the same colour) and land anywhere behind the captured piece.
The wolf
may only slide three times in a row. Then he must be set free by
capture, or by the move of any other of the same player's pieces. This rule is
not valid if the player has only wolves left. In endgames with two wolves
against one, the stronger party must win in seven moves, otherwise it's declared
a draw. Stalemate is a loss.
Frisian Draughts is similar to International Draughts. The main
difference is that both men and wolves (kings) may capture orthogonally as well
as diagonally. Preference must always be given to the longest capturing line.
If still equal, the wolf's capturing move is privileged.
1. Can
draughts capture backward? Yes.
2. Does a draught continue jumping
after reaching last rank? Yes.
2a. ...and can he be crowned and
continue jumping? No.
3. Can wolves move any number of squares? Yes.
4.
Are captured pieces left on the board until after the move? Yes.
5. Must
you choose the move capturing the most pieces? Yes.
5a ...and if even, give
precedence to a wolf's capturing move before the capturing move of a draught?
Yes.
6. Must you give precedence to the capture of a wolf to the capture of
a draught? Yes.
7. Must you give precedence to the capture of two draughts
to the capture of one wolf? Yes.
Discussion
The game was mentioned first time in a book by
Swaanenburg, printed in Amsterdam 1725. Around 1750
By way of
combinations one must try to attain material advantage, by exchanging one piece
for two, or two for three, etc. In the endgame, material advantage generally
leads to a win. But two wolves against one wolf is regarded as a draw after
seven moves. A rule of thumb is that the wolf's value is equal to 2 draughts. If
both parties have a wolf, subsequent wolves are of less value.
A good strategy is to try and get the first wolf, because this piece
will cause a lot of damage to the opponent, provided he cannot capture the wolf
quickly. You should try to hinder the opponent from getting a wolf, by keeping
your lines closed so that he cannot break through. Remember that pieces can
capture backwards, so you do not necessarily need to keep a thick layer of
draughts in the last rows. Pieces that are too far advanced become fragile. You
should try to keep your side organised in effective blocks, instead of spreading
them out in many isolated pieces.
In my program, the Frisian rules are
all enforced, except the seven moves rule in endgames with two wolves against
one. The player can himself decide that it's a draw, with the aid of the moves
list. Nor is the trivial wolf vs. wolf draw enforced.
You can download my free Frisian draughts program
here (updated
2006-06-27), but you must own the software
Zillions of Games to be able to
run it (I recommend the download version).
Also visit
Frisian draughts a Dutch page
about Frisian draughts
© M. Winther 2006
