Checkers Game History
The game of Checkers, or a game very similar to it, has been played for thousands of years. Known throughout history as "alquerque" (in ancient Egypt), "fierges" or "ferses" in France, "jeu de dames," "dames" (also in France, though later on), "draughts" in England, "plaisant" in Holland (or possibly France), and finally "checkers" after it reached North America, checkers is a simple game played with flat discs on a board covered in alternating light and dark squares. It is a favorite of game-board enthusiasts and is easily learned by children and adults alike. The phrase, "King me!" is a familiar one to checkers players in America and conjures up memories of lively games played on front porches and in city parks across the country.
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Mesopotamia and Ancient Egyptian Beginnings
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A game board with similar features to that of checkers was found in an archaeological dig in Ur, an ancient city in Mesopotamia (an area which is now known as Iraq). Whether the more than 5,000-year-old game was played according to the same rules as checkers is still a mystery. Wall art in ancient Egypt depicts players engaged in a game called "alquerque." The board, dated to 1400 B.C.E., had 5 x 5 rows of alternating light and dark squares (modern checkerboards have 8 x 8 squares of usually red and black alternating squares). "Alquerque" pieces were flat circles, but were moved across the board via intersecting lines. "Alquerque" was extremely popular among ancient Egyptians and endured for thousands of years.
Fierges in France
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Travel ahead from the Egypt of 1400 B.C.E. to France in 1100 C.E. Expand the playing board from 5 x 5 squares to 8 x 8 squares, increase the playing pieces to 12 for each player, and you end up with the game called "fierges." "Fierges" was the name of the game, and the playing pieces were referred to as "ferses." Because the game was thought to be an appropriate one for women, it became known as "jeu de dames" and was later shortened to "dames." The game evolved further when players decided it would be more fun and challenging to jump their opponents' playing pieces. At this point, the game came to be called "jeu force."
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Draughts
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Now, move ahead in time yet again to England during the 1800s. Increase the board size to a 10 x 10 grid. The light and dark alternating squares remain the same, but have now increased to 100, with 20 playing pieces for each player. Call the game "draughts" (or possibly "plaisant" in its earliest manifestations). International draughts are played on a 100-square board, but many games of "draughts," as well as American checkers, are played on a 64-squares board, using the 8 x 8 grid and 24 red and black playing pieces (12 for each player). Only the black squares are used during the game.
Checkers Tournaments Arrive
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In 1847, the first checkers tournament was held and an award was handed over to the champion. Players competing in modern checkers tournaments adhere to strict rules. After early tournaments, it came to the attention of players and their opponents that there were distinct advantages to moving first, as well as playing certain opening moves. Restrictions were placed on the number of moves tournament players could make, and have increased to a three-move restriction now currently used in tournament checkers play.
Computer Checkers
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Sometime during the early 1950s, the first computer checkers program was created. As the power, capacity and memory of computers progressed, so did the complexity of computer programs for the game of checkers. Computer or virtual Internet opponents make the game of checkers as easy and accessible to play as a game of solitaire. Millions of people around the world while away the hours playing checkers, many of whom may be oblivious to the long, rich history of the game.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Checkers Board/CoolNotions.com Public Domain Image
