Board games
Russian Draughts
Men capture backwards, kings fly
Russian draughts, shashki, is the draughts game of Russia and Ukraine, played on the same 8×8 board as checkers but much faster: plain pieces capture backwards too, kings fly any distance along a diagonal, and a piece that reaches the far row in the middle of a jump keeps capturing as a king.
- Players
- 2 players
- Length
- 5–15 min per game
- Type
- Board games
Play Russian Draughts online with friends
At Masa, Russian Draughts is a game of its own right next to Checkers: pick it in the games list, open a table and share its code or link with your friends, or sit at a house table. Bots fill the empty chairs, and voice chat keeps the table talking.
How to play
- 1
Two players, 12 pieces each on the dark squares. White moves first.
- 2
Pieces move one square diagonally forward.
- 3
Capturing is mandatory: jump over an enemy piece onto the empty square behind it. Keep jumping while you can — a jump sequence must be finished.
- 4
If you can capture in several ways, pick any of them.
- 5
Plain pieces may capture backward too.
- 6
A piece that reaches the far row becomes a king at once — even in the middle of a capture — and keeps capturing as a king.
- 7
Kings fly: they move any distance along a diagonal and can capture from afar, landing on any empty square beyond the piece they take.
Frequently asked questions
Is Russian Draughts the same game as Checkers?
No. Russian Draughts is played at the same kind of table as Checkers, but with rules of its own — see “How to play” above. At Masa it is a game of its own, with its own tables, stats and achievements.
Can I play Russian Draughts online with friends?
Yes. Open a Russian Draughts table and share its code or link. Empty seats fill with other players or bots, so a game always starts.
Is Russian Draughts free to play?
Yes. You play with Chips, which have no cash value: nothing can be won or cashed out.
