Checkers is one of the oldest surviving games in human civilization. Archeologists have uncovered checkers boards dating back to 3000 BC in Ur (modern Iraq) and ancient Egyptian tombs.
1. Ancient Ancestors: Alquerque
The direct ancestor of checkers was an ancient Middle Eastern game called Alquerque, played on a 5x5 grid with lines connecting diagonal intersections.
2. Board Setup & Strategic Positioning
Around 1100 AD in southern France, players adapted Alquerque onto standard 8x8 Chess boards, naming the game Fierges or Ferses.
3. Key Traps & Defensive Counter-Play
In 1535, French players added the rule that if a capture jump is available, it MUST be taken. This single rule revolutionized checkers, turning it into a deep tactical board game.