A board game that needs intelligence and is played on an eight-by-eight grid’ is most likely the sole similarity between chess and checkers. Both are great and classic games that have been enjoyed for ages by millions of people worldwide.
The primary difference between the two games is that the purpose of checkers is to remove all of your opponent’s pieces from the board, while the objective of chess is to give checkmate to your opponent’s king.
Checkers and chess may appear to be similar, but are they? Continue reading to learn about the similarities and differences between the two and how the chess game is played.
Fundamentals Of Chess
What Is Chess
Chess is a board game for two players that is played on a chessboard (a type of checkerboard that consists of 64 squares having 8 rows and 8 columns). The game is thought to have originated in India.
The Indian name chaturanga in the sixth century (likely the ancestor of the game Xiang qi and shogi). In the 19th century, the rules of chess were established, and the pieces acquired their individual skills.
History Of Chess
Chess dates back approximately 1,500 years. It began in India and rapidly expanded to Persia. As the Arabs invaded, the Muslim community adopted the sport and expanded it throughout Spain and Southern Europe.
Another variant of the game spread over Russia from the Muslim Khanates. The piece alterations that occurred in Europe during the 15th century are the origin of the modern chess game.
In the late 19th century, modern tournaments began. 1883 saw the development of chess clocks for competitive play. In 1866, the first world chess championship was held. With the foundation of the World Chess Federation in the 20th century, chess theory advanced and grew.
Rules
The game is played on an 88 grid with alternate white and black squares.
Each chess piece moves independently. Invariably, the player with white pieces makes the opening move. Then, each player will move one piece per turn in turn order. (If a player forfeits his or her turn, the other player wins the game).
Castling (moving the king two squares along the first rank toward a rook) is permitted once every game under the following conditions: The king or rook has never been moved before.
The rook is the only piece between the queen and the king. The king should not be in Check (a condition in which a player’s king is threatened). A pawn can be promoted to any rank if it has reached the eighth rank on the board.
Checkmate (when a player’s king is threatened and no other movements will remove the threat), Resignation (when a player concedes due to a hopeless situation), Loss of time, and Forfeit are all winning conditions (disqualification due to violation of rules specified in a particular tournament).
If both players agree, games can result in a tie. A player cannot make a lawful move when not in check. Both players cannot avoid repeating the same action. If, during the first fifty moves of the game, no pieces were captured. The remaining pieces cannot checkmate either player (King vs. King).
Moves
The King may move one square in any direction, excluding castling. Queen — Able to move any number of squares horizontally, diagonally, and vertically. Rook — Can move any number of horizontal and vertical squares, excluding castling—Bishop – Able to traverse any amount of diagonal tiles.
Knight – Moves two squares vertically and one square horizontally, or two squares horizontally and one square vertically (‘L’-shaped). Pawn – Moves one square in front of it, except for advancing two squares if both squares are occupied and it is its first move (capturing an opponent’s piece requires moving diagonally in front of it by one square).
Fundamentals Of Checkers
What Are Checkers
Checkers is a popular variation of the Draughts (a series of strategy board games) in the United Kingdom. It is a two-player game featuring diagonal moves on an 88-grid with 64 squares. They are also known as American checkers and straight checkers. Checkers’ purpose is to be the player with the most game pieces remaining on the board or to eliminate/capture all of your opponent’s game pieces.
History Of Checkers
Checkers can be traced back about 5,000 years. The first game was discovered in the city of Ur and resembles our modern checkerboard surprisingly closely. However, it is impossible to determine how the game was played.
According to Homer & Plato’s writings, the Egyptian pharaohs played a game akin to checkers that dates back around 3,500 years. 3000 years ago, the French also developed a variation of checkers known as Fierges. The rules did not require you to capture your opponent’s pawns to win, but you could if you had the chance.
Approximately 500 years ago, the game’s rules were altered to include enemy capture as a means of victory, and its name was changed to Jeu Force. The earlier version was less confrontational and primarily played by women, whereas the current version was designed for men to engage in competitive play.
Rules
Two players, each with either black or white pieces, play the game.12 game pieces per side. The player whose pieces are black moves first, and then the order alternates after each turn.
Only diagonal movement to an adjacent vacant square is permitted. (If an adjacent square holds an opponent’s piece and the diagonally adjacent square is empty, the piece may be captured and taken from the board.)
Only the dark squares may be used on the checkerboard. A piece cannot jump in reverse (unless crowned a king). A piece can become a king and will be able to move backwards, even capturing an opponent’s piece, with the ability to make consecutive jumps so long as each jump is intended to capture/remove a piece.
Differences
Colour
Checkers is typically played on a red and black board, whereas chess is typically played on a white and blackboard. Even though these are the conventional colors, it is not essential, as they can be played on any two-color board.
There are, in fact, chess boards that are brown and ivory as opposed to black and white. Other decorative chess sets may be constructed of porcelain or glass.
In contrast, you can find checkers games with numerous color combinations, such as white and black, white and brown, or whatever two colors you like. It doesn’t matter whatever two colors you choose, regardless of how uncommon they are.
Movement
Checkers’ pawns can travel one square diagonally across the board toward the opponent’s home row. They are unable to jump unless “kinged.” Once a checker’s piece is “kinged,” it can travel diagonally and jump over an opponent’s piece to capture it.
The movement of chess pawns depends on the type of piece they are. Others are capable of moving two or more locations simultaneously. This is why chess is all about pawn intricacies.
Complexity
Learning how the pieces move and how the game is played is challenging in chess. Checkers is a deceptively simple-appearing game, but when played by adults, it can be exceedingly challenging.
Despite the common perception of checkers as a child’s game, their intricacies are quite complex, especially when dodging an opponent with limited movement. The player is expected to best their opponent strategically.
The Narrative
Many players focus on the game’s narrative. Checkers’ games are typically identical each time they are played. There is a restricted number of moves, and games are played very quickly.
Chess is always different. Each game has its own story, making them more complicated and engaging.
Similarities
Despite their differences, chess and checkers share several noteworthy commonalities.
Board game
Both game boards have an 88 grid with 64 squares. They consist of two hues. While these two hues differ, the fact that there are only two distinguishes opponents from one another.
Quantity Of Players
Two individuals play each game. They are sat across the board from one another. Mostly when the game is played professionally, a timer clock is kept around to keep the time taken by each player in check.
The Wit Of A Player
Both chess and checkers require a player’s intelligence. Checkers are frequently taught to children due to their simplicity, but it is precisely this simplicity that makes it deceptively tricky. Simple moves result in fewer means of evading the opponent and more inventiveness on the part of each player.
Conclusion
Now you understand the primary difference between these two. Checkers is a great family game. Fun and easy to learn. You can relax or challenge your youngsters. If you’re searching for something with a more complicated theory, and you’re up for the challenge, learning chess can be a lifelong journey that most people don’t master.
