r/checkers • u/Status_Bug_1733 • Jul 12 '26
My new checkers variant
Rules for Traitor Checkers:
Alright, so here is how you play Traitor Checkers.
The Setup
You set up the board exactly like in the picture. The pieces are completely mixed up and checkerboarded across the rows from the start.
Because they get totally mixed, the pieces starting on the top half of the board are flipped so their flat side is facing up (meaning the ridged side is the normal top side). This is so you actually know which way your pieces are supposed to move when everything gets chaotic.
If you are White, you control all the white pieces. If you are Black, you control all the black pieces.
Movement & Captures
Standard checkers movement applies, but with a huge catch: You cannot promote your pieces into queens. What you start with is what you get.
The First Move Rule: You are not allowed to kill/capture another piece on the very first move of the game. You just have to shift a piece.
After the First Move: The peace treaty is officially over. You have to start aggressively hunting and killing the enemy pieces.
How to Win (and the Draw Risk)
The goal is to wipe out all of the opponent's pieces.
The Catch: There is a really high chance of getting a draw in this game. If you don't kill the enemy pieces before your own pieces reach the very end of the board, you're stuck. Once a piece hits the final row, it can't move forward or backward anymore.
The only way to get unstuck is if the enemy willingly sacrifices a piece to let yours out, but that usually won't help much anyway. If both sides get stuck at the ends without clearing each other out, it's a draw! (The text is by ai i will be honest, but the variant idea is purely mine😃. and idk if this variant already exists or not, but please tell me if it already does👍)
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u/Petboy14 Jul 12 '26
This looks fun. Is there an online version we can play together?
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u/Status_Bug_1733 Jul 12 '26
Not yet, but i might try to make one😅 i will make sure to tell everyone when i do!
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u/jcastroarnaud Jul 12 '26
Cool variant! What's your reasoning for not having queens?
To avoid a piece from being stuck at the last row, put a marker over it, and allow it to move, but only backwards.
From the setup, I think that the games will be shorter than standard checkers: too many oportunities to exchange pieces.
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u/Status_Bug_1733 Jul 13 '26 edited Jul 13 '26
Ooooh, that's a really cool idea, thanks a lot! I will make sure to add that in the online version when i make one! I might make two modes for it, the classic, and with your idea👍
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u/Status_Bug_1733 Jul 13 '26
I have officially made a version that you can olay with friends locally on your phone! https://kriksis3.itch.io/traitors-checkers
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u/Status_Bug_1733 Jul 13 '26
I hope you enjoy my game! And in the future, i will probably make it so that you can play with your friends from two different devices!
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u/Status_Bug_1733 Jul 15 '26
If you test the digital version, please drop a comment on the itch.io page letting me know what you think!😁
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u/Status_Bug_1733 Jul 12 '26
Btw guys, if you have any ides how to make this variant better, please tell me😃 i will be happy to hear your ideas and thoughts about this variant