draughts
Draughts (noun) means the British English name for checkers: a board game for two players who try to capture all of the opponent's pieces by jumping over them. Example: “They set up the draughts board and played best of three.”
How to Use Draughts
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe classic board game played on a checkerboard with round pieces, known as "checkers" in American English.
Called "draughts" in the UK, "checkers" in the US.
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
They set up the _____ board and played best of three.
Synonyms
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between draughts and checkers?
None — they're the same board game. "Draughts" is the British English name and "checkers" is the American English name; both refer to the identical game, board and rules.
How do you play draughts?
Two players face off on an 8×8 board with 12 pieces each, moving diagonally on the dark squares and capturing an opponent's piece by jumping over it. The first player to capture or trap all of their opponent's pieces wins.
Is draughts the same as chess?
No. Draughts pieces are all identical and move the same way, while chess has six different piece types with different rules — draughts is simpler to learn but still has real depth.
Can you play draughts online?
Yes — sites like Checker Games let you play draughts (checkers) against the computer or another player for free in your browser.
Further Reading
Play checkers (draughts) online for free, against the computer or another player.