Pool checkers

Pool checkers, also called "American pool checkers", is a variant of draughts, mainly played in the southeastern United States.

Basic rules

The starting position of pool checkers, as well as English draughts

As in the related game English draughts (also known as American checkers or straight checkers), the game is played on an 8x8 board with the double corner (corner without a checker) to each player's right. The opponent playing the dark pieces will start the game by making the first move. One difference from the rules of English checkers is that a piece may move both forward and backward. A player must capture an opponent's checker when possible (both forward and backward), but if two possibilities exists, the player may choose the sequence (even if one sequence has more jumps). The pieces are not removed until all jumps are completed and the player's hand is removed from his piece. A player may not capture an opponent more than one time. A player may not capture his own pieces.

Another difference is that kings are flying kings. A king can jump any number of squares forward and backward as long as one square is empty past the opponent. A king can make right turns after a jump and continue along another path after successfully taking an opponent. A king must also make all the possible jumps during a sequence. If the condition arises that one player has three kings and the other has just one king, the player who has the three kings must win within thirteen moves (even if the fourteenth move is a capture).

Past champions of the American Pool Checkers Association

Names of champions in the several divisions are listed with the APCA club that they represent.