Checkers vs. Go
Comparing 2 standards across 16 specifications. 16 key differences identified.
Checkers (American Checkers / English Draughts) is a two-player strategy game played on the 32 dark squares of an 8×8 board with 12 pieces per player. Official standards mandate that jumping/capturing is compulsory, pieces move forward diagonally, and reaching the back rank crowns a King, granting backward movement capabilities.
Go (Weiqi / Baduk) is an ancient two-player abstract strategy board game governed internationally by the International Go Federation (IGF). Played on a 19×19 grid (361 intersections), players place black and white stones to surround territory and capture enemy stones by removing all their 'liberties', governed by standard Komi compensation (6.5 or 7.5 points to White) and the Ko rule.
Specification Comparison Table
16 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Governing Body
|
WCDF / ACF | International Go Federation (IGF) |
|
American Board Size
|
8 × 8 (32 playable dark squares) 12 pieces per player | — |
|
International Board Size
|
10 × 10 (50 playable dark squares) 20 pieces per player | — |
|
Mandatory Capture Rule
|
Compulsory (Must Jump) WCDF tournament standard | — |
|
Multiple Jump Rule
|
Must continue jumping in sequence if available | — |
|
King Crowning Rank
|
Opponent's baseline (Row 8 / Row 1) Turn ends on crowning | — |
|
American King Movement
|
1 square diagonally forward or backward | — |
|
International Flying King
|
Moves/jumps any distance along diagonal 10×10 International only | — |
|
Standard Grid Size
|
— | 19 × 19 361 intersections |
|
Beginner Grid Sizes
|
— | 9 × 9 (81 points) or 13 × 13 (169 points) |
|
Standard Grid Pitch
|
— | 22.0 mm (W) × 23.7 mm (L) non-square rectangle to correct viewing angle |
|
Total Stones in Set
|
— | 361 181 Black, 180 White |
|
Standard Stone Diameter
|
— | 21.5 to 22.0 mm |
|
Komi (Japanese Rules)
|
— | 6.5 points added to White (prevents draws) |
|
Komi (Chinese Rules)
|
— | 7.5 points added to White |
|
Suicide Rule
|
— | Prohibited (Illegal) cannot play a move with zero liberties unless capturing |