About Dama (Turkish Draughts)

Dama, also called Turkish draughts, is the checkers game of cafés and family gatherings from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to Syria, Egypt and Turkey. Each side has sixteen men that fill the second and third rows of a plain 8×8 board. Men move one square forward or sideways, never diagonally, and capture by jumping over an enemy piece in a straight line.

Capturing is compulsory, and when you can take more than one way you must choose the sequence that takes the most pieces. Reach the far row and your man becomes a dama, a flying king that slides along whole rows and columns. Play an easy computer, a hard one that searches several moves ahead, or a friend on the same device.

How to play

Tap one of your pieces, then a green dot. Men move one square forward or sideways.
Jump over an enemy piece next to you to capture it. Keep jumping while you can.
Captures are compulsory, and you must take the largest number of pieces.
A man that reaches the last row becomes a dama that moves any distance in straight lines.

About Dama (Turkish Draughts)

Dama, known in English as Turkish draughts, is the most played checkers game in much of the Arab world. Its orthogonal moves and long multi-captures make it feel very different from diagonal checkers: whole rows can disappear in a single turn, and one flying king can decide the game.

Tips to score higher

Keep your men in solid pairs and rows; a lone man is easy to jump.
Because capturing is compulsory, you can sacrifice one man to force your rival into a position where you take two or three back.
Always count the longest capture for both sides before you move: the rules force the biggest capture.
Your first dama is worth several men. Push a man to the last row when the path is clear and protected.