
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,295
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Xiangqi
- 2 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 3.6/5
- 762

1400
Rules assistance for Italian Checkers
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

For 2 players
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Italian Checkers is a board game released in 1400 for 2 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 5 and up. Its main mechanics are Square Grid, Grid Movement, and Pattern Movement.
It is the national form of Checkers in Italy, where it is called Dama. Played on an 8×8 board, it differs from most other games of the Checkers Family because men can't jump kings. Another peculiarity are the jump rules, which define with more cases which move is compulsory in case of multiple possible jumps: You must capture as many as pieces as possible in a move. (As usual in Checkers.) In case of multiple longest capture sequences, you must capture using a king if possible. In case of multiple longest captures using kings, you must capture as many kings as possible. In case of multiple longest captures with the same number of kings, you must choose a capture sequence that captures a king earliest. Men move and capture only diagonally forward. Kings move and capture diagonally forwards and backwards but don't fly. This game can be played online at Ludoteka
Italian Checkers supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Italian Checkers is 30 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Italian Checkers for ages 5 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Italian Checkers has a complexity rating of 1.7 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Italian Checkers belongs to these categories: Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Square Grid, Grid Movement, and Pattern Movement. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The catalogue lists Italian Checkers as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.