Pskov Checkers

In Pskov, masters once set up the checkers board in an unusual way: not along the diagonals, but with the corners facing the players. That is how Pskov Checkers appeared, a checkers variant where there are more options than it first seems, and simple exchanges quickly turn into a puzzle. Crowds gathered around the first games, and now you can see why for yourself. Players argued, laughed, and tried different moves to figure out which one was the trickiest. Over time, this board turned into a place where planning and quick thinking meet. Play this new spin on checkers and show how far your logic can go in every move against your opponent.

How to play?

All squares are in play, and there are no traditional diagonals. The board comes in two sizes: a large one with 61 squares and a small one with 37 squares, with 24 or 13 checkers for each player. Regular checkers move forward in three directions and capture in all six. Capturing is mandatory, and you have to finish the full capture sequence. A king appears only in the opposite corner of the board and can move to distant squares. You can play against the computer, share a device with a friend, or face an opponent online. You can also watch other people’s games and suggest moves to other players. The winner is the one who captures all of the opponent’s checkers. Each game adds new strategic options and demands close attention, and the diagonally oriented board makes moves trickier than they look at first glance. Choose the set of checkers you want to use and beat your opponents in every game.