An independent reference about classic board games. It does not sell games or sets, does not run tournaments and is not connected with the former site on this domain.
Rules
Classic games don't get updates in the usual sense: their rules took shape over a long time, in different countries, clubs and families. That is why one and the same game can have several variants, and players from different circles can honestly consider different things correct. This section explains why that happens, which differences come up most often and how to agree on the rules before the first move. There is no news and there are no dates here.
An argument about the rules after a move is an argument about the result. Before the game, it is just a conversation.
How this section works: the differences are described in general terms. Check the details of a particular rulebook with your club or your opponent.
Typical points worth agreeing on.
Russian draughts is played on an 8×8 board with 12 pieces each, international draughts on a 10×10 board with 20 pieces each. The differences don't end there, and habits from one game can let you down in the other, so check before the game exactly what you are playing.
The aim is the same everywhere — to surround more territory — and White receives compensation for moving second, called komi. But scoring methods differ between traditions, and the amount of komi is also agreed on. Decide how you will count before the first stone.
What if the position repeats again and again, or nobody can make progress? In some games and rulebooks that is a draw; in others repeating a position is not allowed. Agree on when a game is declared drawn.
Families and neighbourhood players often simplify the rules: they allow moves to be taken back, soften compulsory capturing for younger players or change the order of jumps in ugolki. That is fine, as long as everyone at the table knows about the arrangement in advance.
Mancala is a family of sowing games, and every variant has its own rules: how sowing starts, when pebbles are captured, how the game ends. If you learned from one group of people and are now playing with another, start with a trial game.
Say out loud what you are playing: Russian or international draughts, which board size for Go, which variant of mancala.
Is capturing compulsory, can moves be taken back, how is the score counted, what counts as a draw. A minute is enough to head off most future disputes.
Agree in advance what to do if a dispute arises anyway: check the rulebook, ask a third player or replay the moment.
When playing by correspondence or online, it helps to set out the rules in the very first message so that you don't have to rely on memory later.
The centre, tempo, exchanges, sacrifices, weak points and the endgame — general strategic ideas for any board game.
How to choose a game for your group: age, game length, depth, how easy it is to learn and whether you need a set.
Glossary: king, capture, liberties, komi, territory, eye, mill, sowing, draw, endgame, tempo and exchange.
Answers about the guide, rules and disputes at the board, teaching children and playing as a family.
We describe the rules in general terms. Clubs, families and different rulebooks have their own variations, so before a serious game check the rules you agreed on at the board.