15 In North America, the game of Checkers is largely regarded as a childrens' game. This American variation incorporates none of the rules which add complexity and intrigue to other variations, +
16 simplifying its rules enough so that even the youngest players can enjoy the game--while still ensuring that a better player can force a win.
20 English Draughts is the most popular Checkers variation today; in most of Europe, it is equated with the name Checkers itself. English Draughts has one additional rule beyond the American variation: +
21 you have no choice but to capture your opponents' pieces whenever possible. This one additional rule creates the near-endless traps, intrigues and strategies which have inspired countless books and tournaments.
25 Losing Draughts (also known as Suicide Draughts) is relatively modern, refreshing variation on English Draughts. All moves in Losing Draughts are identical to those in English Draughts, but the objective +
26 is reversed: the first player who loses all his checkers (or prevents them from being able to move), wins.
30 Of the many variations of Checkers which are played throughout Europe, none differ so little from English Draughts as does Italian Draughts. +
31 In Italian draughts, a king may not be captured by an uncrowned piece--only by another king. +
32 Easy enough, but there is a second change: if you have a choice between multiple captures, you must choose the move which allows you to capture the most pieces.
35 Spanish Draughts starts with the rules from the Italian variation, but introduces another popular move--a king may move diagonally to jump an opponent's piece even if it is several squares away, provided that the squares +
36 between the king and the piece (and the square just beyond the piece) are empty. After capturing the piece, the king may change directions and continue its move. +
37 The German, Polish and Russian variations all include this "long jump" ability.
40 The German variation is almost identical to Spanish Draughts, except that uncrowned pieces gain a new power: they can move backwards--+
41 provided that they do so to capture a piece.
45 The Russian variation of Checkers is nearly identical to the German variation; one minor change is that pieces always crown upon reaching the last row (in the German variation, a piece may be forced to capture backwards instead of crowning; +
46 in the Russian variation, the piece first crowns and then may still immediately make a capture).
50 Polish Draughts is identical to German Draghts, except that it is played on a ten-by-ten board and with more pieces.
55 The game of Checkers is believed to have been played in various forms for five or six thousand years; in this it predates all known variations of Chess, backgammon and even Nine Men's Morris. +
56 Alquerque is recognized as one of the oldest living variations on the game; it is one of the last variations which are not played on an eight-by-eight grid. +
57 Instead it has its own distinctive board, and simpler rules than any other form of the game.
60 You can choose to play a Custom version of draughts, selecting whatever rules and board-size you prefer.
65 Capture:
66 Optional
67 Required (Any)
68 Required (Most)
69 Long Jump:
70 Allowed
71 Not Allowed
72 King Capture:
73 By Any Piece
74 By King Only
75 Capture Backwards:
76 Not Allowed
77 Allowed
78 Allowed (Prevents Crown)
79 Allowed (Allows Crown)
81 Black
82 Red
83 Times New Roman,20
84 Default
85 Times New Roman,14,U
86 Times New Roman,14
87 Red to Play
88 Black to Play
89 Red: Computer is Studying Board
90 Black: Computer is Studying Board
91 Red has Won!
92 Black has Won!
93 Draw by Repetition!
94 Not Applicable
95 Goal:
96 Capture All Checkers
97 Lose All Checkers
100 B
101 Are You Sure?
102 You are already playing a game; if you start another, this game will be discarded.\n\nAre you sure you want to start a new game?
103 You are currently playing a game; are you sure you want to quit?
104 %1 (Black) versus %2 (Red)
105 Human
106 Weak Computer
107 Computer
108 Strong Computer
109 Checkers - Select Game Type
110 Eight by Eight
111 Ten by Ten
112 Times New Roman,20
113 Registered!
114 Unregistered Shareware (See Help/Register)
115 Feature Unavailable
116 In the unregistered version of Checkers International, you cannot play a custom Checkers variation.\n\nTo register, select the Help.About menu item.
117 Error - American Checkers
118 American Checkers cannot run because your display is in an incompatible video mode.\n\nTo run American Checkers, your display must be configured to run in a 256-color (or better) video mode, +
119 with a screen resolution of at least 800x600 (Polish Draughts requires 1024x768).\n\nTo change your display settings, open the control panel, double-click the Display icon, and select the Settings tab.
120 American Checkers cannot begin the requested game because your display is in an incompatible video mode.\n\nTo run American Checkers, your display must be configured to run in a 256-color (or better) video mode, +
121 with a screen resolution of at least 800x600--Polish Draughts (or any custom variation played on the ten-by-ten board) requires a screen resolution of 1024x768.\n\n+
122 To change your display settings, open the control panel, double-click the Display icon, and select the Settings tab.
