Who Invented Checkers?

The modern-day game of checkers is played by two people. A player uses 12 either black or red pieces to eliminate or trap her opponent's pieces. The playing surfaces is a board that consists of 64 equal squares. The game is called "draughts" in Europe.

Game Origins

Archeologists have found remnants of a game similar to checkers at a site in Ur, Iraq. Carbon dating places the game piece as originating from around 3000 BC.

Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egyptians played a game called "alquerque" that was similar to checkers. Alquerque was played on a board with 25 equal squares and 10 game pieces per player. Alquerque can be seen in Egyptian artwork dating back to nearly 1600 BC.

Modern Rules

The French are believed to have expanded the game of checkers in 1100 AD. Frenchmen increased the game pieces to 12 per player and played the game on the bigger, 25-square chess board.

Written History

Antonio Torquemada wrote the first account of checkers in Spain in 1547. In 1756, William Payne wrote a longer explanation of how to play the game of checkers.

First Champion

Andrew Anderson of Scotland is believed to be the first checkers world champion. Anderson reportedly retired undefeated in 1848 after starting to play the game in the early 1830s.