Easy International draughts
Easy International draughts is the standard 10×10 start against a shallow computer. Rules match International draughts: flying kings, backward man captures, and mandatory longest capture when you must jump.
You play black at the bottom; white moves first, so the computer opens. Easy only shortens how far the computer looks ahead.
International rules in Easy mode
Remove every opposing piece, or leave the other side with no legal move. The game uses the standard 10×10 International draughts start: twenty men each on fifty dark squares, white to move first.
- Men step one square diagonally forward on quiet moves; captures may run forward or backward.
- When jumps are available you must capture; if several lines exist, you must take one that captures the maximum number of enemy pieces (longest capture).
- Kings fly along open diagonals and may land on any empty square beyond a taken piece.
- A man promotes to a king only when the move ends on the far rank. A capture that passes that rank and continues leaves the piece a man; it does not fly on that turn.
What the Easy International opponent calculates
The Easy opponent looks one move ahead on the 10×10 board: it plays the move that looks best right now and never checks your reply.
It scores positions by men, kings, and available moves, and it follows the longest-capture rule and flying kings. Only how far ahead it looks changes between Easy, Medium, and Hard.
It often misses a longer capture you are forced to find, and it rarely sees a flying king shot two full turns away.
Longest capture drills on Easy
Count pieces before you jump
When two jump lines are legal, the longer one is mandatory, so practice counting every victim in each chain before you tap.
Backward man shots
A quiet-looking position can explode when a man captures toward its home row. Easy undervalues rearward hops that open a flying king next turn.
Wide board, slow wings
With twenty men, the flanks matter. Keep one file defended while you probe the center; Easy rarely punishes a slow wing march if you do not blunder a longest-capture line.
International draughts difficulty levels compared
| Level | Best for | How far it looks | Typical gap | Practice focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy (this page) | First games on the 10×10 board | 1 move ahead (its own; never your reply) | Cannot see a longest-capture trap before it is on the board | Count every piece in a forced jump before you tap |
| Medium | Regular International draughts practice | 3 moves ahead | Finds short tactical shots; weaker on quiet king endgames | Use backward man jumps to open flying king lines |
| Hard | Longer tactical lines on 50 squares | 5 moves ahead | Stops at five moves ahead — not tournament-level International play | Plan long capture chains — a man crowns only if the chain ends on the far rank |
Need a refresher on the basics? Read the complete International Checkers guide and rules on Checkerso for 10×10 board rules, mandatory longest capture sequences, and flying kings.
Frequently asked questions
Does Easy International draughts change the 10×10 rules?
No. Board size, flying kings, backward captures, and longest-capture obligation are the same as on the main International draughts page. Only how far ahead the computer looks differs: one move.
Why must I take the longest capture on Easy?
International draughts requires maximum capture at every difficulty. Easy simply does not always choose the best reply after you obey that rule.
When should I switch to Medium International draughts?
Move up when you win most Easy games without missing a forced longest-capture line. Medium looks three moves ahead on the same rules.