Dameo

• Board
• Objective
• Play
• Captures
• External Links

Dameo is played on a common 8x8 checkerboard.

The initial position of dark and light checkers is shown in the following picture:

Players move alternately, starting with the player with the light checkers.

Ordinary checkers can move in two different ways:

1. An ordinary checker can move one square forward or diagonally forward and land on an empty square.
2. An  ordinary checker can jump forward or diagonally forward over a straight unbroken line of ordinary checkers of the same color and land on the first empty square after them.

If an ordinary checker ends its move on the last row of the board it is promoted to a king. If an ordinary checker in the course of a capture traverses squares of the back row, but does not end on one, it is not promoted.

Kings can move any number of squares horizonally, vertically or diagonally (exactly like a Queen in Chess).  Kings cannot jump over their own pieces.

Neither ordinary checkers nor kings can land on an occupied square.

An ordinary checker can capture an opponent's piece standing on a horizontally or vertically adjacent square (in all four directions) if the next square in the same direction is empty.  The capture is made by jumping over this opponent's piece and placing the player's own checker on the next empty square.  The opponent's piece is removed from the board.  If the same player's checker can continue capturing another opponent's piece then it must do so.

A king can capture an opponent's piece standing on the same horizontal or vertical line if there are no other pieces between them and the next square or squares in the same direction are empty too.  The capture is made by jumping over this opponent's piece and placing the king on any of the next empty squares.  If the same player's king can continue capturing another opponent's piece then it must do so.

A multiple capture must be completed before the captured pieces are removed.  In the course of a multiple capture the capturing piece may visit a vacant square more than once (going roundabout), but it may not jump the same piece more than once.

Capture is mandatory, as is maximum capture.  This means that if a player can capture an opponent's piece (or pieces) on his turn then he must do so and beforehand establish the route that gives the largest number of them. A captured king counts as a single piece. The player is free to choose between maximum captures of equal length.

• The rules and strategies of Dameo on MindSports.nl