Draughts-64

[Amatista Sheeley]

Istarted my adventure with draughts at home, in my grandfather's room. After school, I would leave my backpack at the doorstep and play a game with my grandfather to relax. Interestingly, I only had chess at home, so the chess pieces served as draughts pieces, which didn't bother me at all.

What attracted me to draughts more than to chess, was the quick action in draughts, and the fact I could often capture. In draughts, as we know, capturing is compulsory, thus my grandfather's stones were quickly overtaken, which gave me satisfaction and motivation to continue playing, and above all, was really enjoyable for an 8-year-old girl.

The combinations are certainly the most important and indispensable element of a forward figuring in draughts. My position seems completely hopeless and then it turns out that I am saved by a beautiful and hidden combination, which even ends up in the reference book!

The second feature of this game I can think of, and the one proving the beauty of draughts, is the sacrifice, i.e. giving up a piece to gain positional compensation. For those who begin their adventure with draughts, it will certainly be one of the most difficult elements of the game. To give away your pieces and capture your opponent's pieces - sounds logical, but to give away a piece and keep playing? This requires a developed ability to figure out many forward moves, to predict skillfully, to be imaginative and creative! The plan like that does not work from a move to a move, it is usually a well-thought-out sacrifice, which when consistently finished, evokes admiration. Remember that in draughts, the material gain is of great importance, as each piece has the same value (unlike in chess), and numerous positions with an advantage pawn are considered a winning game. Thus, the sacrifice is very controversial, but the player who will carry it successfully until the end of the game, is even more admired. In the history of draughts we will probably find thousands of gameplays with beautiful sacrifices, whereas there are games where the player sacrificed two (!) pieces and continued to play. Believe me, such gameplays happen to geniuses at draughts, and their games are immediately recorded in the latest reference literature.

*Interestingly, the algorithms of draughts computer programmes, due to a large number of combinations, do not analyse the possibility of giving in two pieces and further play, so only a human can find such a solution during the game.

A 10 x 10 draughts consist of a hundred squares. A hundred squares, which we can use according to our vision, idea or creativity. The winner is not the one who knows the reference literature by heart, but the one who can cleverly conduct his "20-man army" during a five-hour battle. The winner is the one whose strategy on the battlefield as well as the resources he used in it, will be more effective.

As a lover of mind sports, I used to try many board games and mental-skill games. I have never played chess professionally, i.e. I have never participated in an official chess tournament. I only played this game at a social level, while many draughts players had the pleasure of playing both games simultaneously and for some reason they chose draughts. I am lucky they shared their thoughts and feelings with me and I will try to summarise these briefly.

Similarly, in the case of draughts-64, where the theory is an indispensable element at a higher level, so in this respect both disciplines, chess and 64-square draughts, can be compared. International draughts (Polish draughts) are not so much based on the theory and it was this feature, which made some "draughts-chess players" choose 10x10 board draughts.

One of the girls answered that she liked draughts, as despite her young age, everything during the gameplay depends on her, unlike "in normal life". As a child, you depend on your parents at every level of your life. During the tournament, you are on your own and the chance is in your hands. It is also extremely interesting that less than a 10-year-old child is so much aware of the responsibility for his actions (in this case, for playing the game and his ups and downs in draughts). This proves that draughts do not only help at school, but also create a person in his or her personal life and develop very important qualities, which can affect success in other areas of life.

The Foundation is an independent, private and privately financed organization.

The purpose of the Foundation is the development of draughts-64/100 in the world.

The financial goal of the Foundation (which is not guaranteed) is attainment of additional financing for draughts-64 in the amount from 350,000 to 500,000 US dollars a year.

For next 10-12 years and for the future.

Six members from Jamaica being the host country will be allowed to represent Jamaica in the Pan American Draughts-64 Championship. The selection for local participants will be held on Sunday, January 28th 2018 Begin at 10:am sharp. Click here for more details.

Competitions will be held in the three types of programs: Blitz, Rapid and Classic. In each program, winners will be determined in both personal and team competitions. Click these links for additional details: Link 1 Link 2

Registration takes place between 6 am and 2 pm on February 22 and all participants are required to have medical insurance for the duration of competition. All interested participants should contact the JDA at:

Competitions are held by the Rules of the game and competition in draughts-64.

Competitions are held in the three types of programs: Blitz, Rapid and Classic.

System of holding for all programs is Swiss.

Competitions are held by the system of micro-matches consist of two games with the drawing according to the official table.

All participants regardless of gender, age and rating are allowed to participate in the Final of World Cup stage of the competition, who registered in accordance with this regulation and paid the tournament fee. The number of participants representing the country is not limited.

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