Hard International draughts
Hard International draughts looks further ahead on the same 10×10 rules as International draughts: five moves instead of one or three. It is stronger practice, not a claim of master International strength.
Longest capture still applies. Kings still fly. Men still jump backward.
International rules against Hard
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 Hard International opponent sees
The Hard opponent looks five moves ahead, or fewer in a crowded position with many flying kings, so it never keeps you waiting. It is a practice opponent with a set limit, not a master International draughts program.
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 plans further ahead than Medium on the same board, but it stops at five moves: strong practice, not championship strength.
Calculation on fifty squares
Compare every longest line
When jumps are on, enumerate all maximum-capture sequences — including king flights that skim several men. Hard chooses among lines you should have compared yourself.
King endgame geometry
With fewer pieces, diagonal control decides the game. Hard coordinates flying kings to trap a lone man; keep your kings on supporting diagonals.
Punish quiet mistakes
Hard looks five moves ahead. Quiet positional slips still matter, but forced capture lines are where its extra look-ahead punishes you most.
International draughts difficulty levels compared
| Level | Best for | How far it looks | Typical gap | Practice focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | 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 (this page) | 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
How deep does Hard International draughts search?
Five moves ahead on the International rules used on Checkerso. It has no opening book and does not search without limit.
Is Hard unbeatable on the 10×10 board?
No. It is the strongest setting offered here for International draughts, but it always stops at five moves ahead, so it is not a master.
Does Hard use the same rules as FMJD tournament draughts?
Checkerso implements standard International movement — flying kings, backward man capture, mandatory longest capture, and promotion only when the move ends on the far rank — on the usual 10×10 start. It does not claim certification by the FMJD or any other federation, and it does not simulate every federation tie-break or time control.