1. Board & Pieces
Standard Nigerian Draughts is played on a 10x10 board with 50 playable dark squares.
Each player starts with 20 seeds (men) placed on the first 4 rows.
2. Backward Captures for Ordinary Seeds ("Chop Anywhere")
Ordinary pieces can only move forward 1 step diagonally.
However, when capturing an enemy seed, ordinary seeds CAN JUMP BOTH FORWARD AND BACKWARD!
This is one of the trademark features of Nigerian and International Draughts.
3. The Flying King ("Long King" / "Oba")
When a seed reaches the opponent's back rank, it is crowned an Oba (Flying King).
- Movement: The King can fly any number of vacant squares along any diagonal (forward or backward).
- Long-Distance Capture: The King can jump over an enemy seed from a distance, and land on any vacant square beyond it along that diagonal!
- Multi-Jumps: If another capture is available from any landing square, the King continues flying and chopping!
4. Compulsory Capture ("You Must Chop!")
If any player has an available capture, capturing is mandatory. You cannot make a normal quiet move if a capture is possible.
5. Nigerian Street Rule vs Tournament Rule
- Naija Street Rules (Default): When multiple capture paths are available, you have free choice to pick any capture route, regardless of how many pieces each takes.
- Tournament Rules (FMJD): You are required to choose the path that captures the maximum number of pieces.
6. Winning the Game
You win by chopping all of your opponent's seeds, or by blocking them completely so they have zero legal moves remaining.