How to play Ink Clans

Checkers where every capture is a fight. The rules are real checkers; the fights are the show.

The basics

Each side starts on the dark squares, with 12 fighters on the 8×8 board and 20 on the 10×10 International board. Fighters move one square diagonally forward. You capture by jumping diagonally over an enemy into the empty square behind it, and you can chain several jumps in one turn.

Crowns

A fighter that reaches the far row is crowned. Crowned fighters move and jump both forward and backward. In American rules a capture that reaches the far row crowns the fighter and ends the turn. In Russian rules the new king keeps jumping, and in Brazilian, International and Pool a man that can keep capturing passes through the far row and is crowned only if its move ends there.

Rule sets

Pick a rule set on the clan screen. American is the classic 8×8 game where men only capture forward and kings move one square. Brazilian, Russian and Pool let men capture backward and give kings long "flying" moves along the diagonal. International plays the same on a 10×10 board with 20 fighters a side. Brazilian and International also require you to take the capture sequence that removes the most pieces. In Russian rules a man crowned in the middle of a chain keeps jumping as a king.

Strict or free captures

In strict mode, the tournament rule applies: if any jump is available you must take one, and you must finish the whole chain. In free mode, jumps are optional, and after a jump you can stop the chain by tapping End turn. Change this in Settings.

Fights

Every capture plays out as a fight. The jumped fighter always loses, so fights never change the result, but you get to pick the finisher. Tap Speed up to fast-forward, or shorten fights in Settings.

Winning

You win when your opponent has no fighters left or no legal moves.

Rule sets compared

• American

  • 8×8
  • forward captures
  • short kings

  The classic 8×8 game. Men move and capture forward only. Kings move one square.

• Brazilian

  • 8×8
  • backward captures
  • flying kings
  • max capture

  International rules on the 8×8 board. Men capture backward, kings fly, and you must take the biggest capture.

• International

  • 10×10
  • backward captures
  • flying kings
  • max capture

  The 10×10 world championship game with 20 fighters a side. Men capture backward, kings fly, biggest capture is mandatory.

• Russian

  • 8×8
  • backward captures
  • flying kings
  • crown mid-chain

  Men capture backward and kings fly. A man crowned mid-chain keeps jumping as a king. Any capture is allowed.

• Pool

  • 8×8
  • backward captures
  • flying kings

  Popular in the American South and the Caribbean. Men capture backward, kings fly, no maximum-capture rule.

The eight clans

• Ninja

  Silent, quick, never where you expect.

  • Shadow step: vanish, strike from behind
  • Shuriken storm: three stars, then a big one
  • Dragon kick: leap into a spin kick
  • Thousand Shadows (ultimate): a ring of shadow clones

• Karateka

  Clean technique and big kicks.

  • Tiger combo: jab, cross, roundhouse
  • Sky breaker: uppercut, then axe kick
  • Hundred fists: a blur of punches
  • Heaven Splitter (ultimate): a chop that splits the sky

• Sumo

  Heavy, unstoppable, shakes the whole board.

  • Belly bump: charge and launch
  • Thunder stomp: shake the whole board
  • Palm barrage: rapid open-hand slaps
  • Mountain Drop (ultimate): fall from the sky

• Samurai

  Paper armor and a brush-stroke blade.

  • Quick draw: one cut, too fast to see
  • Crescent cut: a spinning sword sweep
  • Falling blade: leap into a downward cut
  • Moonlit Cut (ultimate): one cut under the moon

• Storm Ninja

  Spiky-haired lightning kids in purple gi.

  • Lightning call: bring down the sky
  • Volt dash: strike at the speed of light
  • Storm spiral: a whirlwind flying kick
  • Thunder God (ultimate): call down a storm

• Monk

  Shaolin-style kung fu monks with a bo staff.

  • Staff whirlwind: a spinning bo-staff storm
  • Still palm: one quiet push, a huge blast
  • Pole vault kick: launch off the staff, feet first
  • Mandala Palm (ultimate): a golden mandala blast

• Nak Muay

  Muay Thai fighters: knees, elbows and clinches.

  • Flying knee: leap in knee-first
  • Spinning elbow: turn and cut with the elbow
  • Clinch knees: grab the neck, drive knees
  • Eight Limbs (ultimate): fists, elbows, knees, shins

• Capoeirista

  Acrobatic Brazilian fighters who kick like they dance.

  • Meia-lua: half-moon spinning heel kick
  • Aú kick: cartwheel in, kick on landing
  • Rasteira: low sweep, then they drop
  • Roda Storm (ultimate): a whirlwind of half-moon kicks

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