Origins: The 5,000 Year History of Checkers

Ancient Beginnings

A board game resembling checkers was discovered in the ancient city of Ur (modern day Iraq) dating back to 3,000 B.C. Using a slightly different board, this game is considered the great-grandfather of modern strategy games.

Alquerque and the Moors

The modern form began to take shape around 1,400 B.C. in Egypt with a game called Alquerque. When the Moors brought Alquerque to Spain, it was played on a chessboard, evolving into "Ferses," named after the Queen (Fers) in chess.

The French Contribution

In 1535, France introduced the rule that made Checkers what it is today: the "forced capture." If you didn't take a capture, your piece was "huffed" (blown on and removed). This added a layer of aggressive tactics that defines the game today.