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How should i improve in draughts?

hello lidraughts community i am a chess player known as @BlitzWizard94 and i pretty much love draughts but have never really been good at it so i am interested in improving at it. i have barely played much here but this is my first LiDraughts account, its just i am more of a active chess player than a draughts one but i be happy to hear any advice i can get. i want to understand openings, the basics, and normal stuff as i am a complete noob and would really appreciate any help, thanks and cheers :)

@BlitzWizard94 In my opinion, the first thing to know about draughts is the rules under whom you play in local community, because draughts is social game, and it is almost impossible to make progress wihout some socialization.
Although these rules vary from variant to variant, there are some common principles which work eventually in each variant.
1st. At the opening stage, don't rush too deep in opponent camp, unless you have defensive or tactical means for protecting advanced draughtsman.
2nd. Distribute your draughtsmen between left and right flanks almost equally;
3rd. Avoid making direct holes between two draughtsmen on same diagonal; even if you can make a safe move by forming a hole, you should eliminate that hole before your opponent can form some tactical shot idea;
4th. Don't lead bring central draughtsmen from the first edge row into game too early, because they can access LARGEST NUMBER of squares, which is VERY BENEFICIAL into early endgame.
5th. Although the probability of a draw is very high, don't try to make complications on the board against higher rated players. For example, there is nothing wrong in giving central squares to your opponent in opening stage, as well as focusing on flanks, because one of the main winning motifs is win by encirclement or besiege. However, lower rated players miss knowledge on countering strong centralized draughtsmen, and it is one of the most common mistakes which leads to a loss. It is the main reason why beginners are advised to play for centralization.
6th. Learn BASIC ENDGAMES (and they are different in each draughts variant), because it would allow you understand the nature of eventual endgame.
7th. If you have no idea how to convert some advantage, you should always keep in mind that the strongest and the quickest win is achieved by opposition (which, by the way, functions very similarly to king and pawn endgames in chess) or locking enemy pieces (which chess players might recognize as stalemate), or zugzwang (which in draughts can be initiated by spectacular sacrifice). In all other cases there might be exceptional draws; for example, in International draughts (here, in lidraughts called 'standard') there are some positions where three extra draughtsmen are insufficient for winning.
8th. Learn tactical particularities of your preferred variant. For example, in 'standard' draughts: (a) exploiting of multiple capturing; (b) exploiting of a free tempo (some chess players are used to call it as 'intermediate move' or 'intermezzo') when opponent is obliged to make capturing move; (c) exploiting BACKWARDS capturing move which beginner level players tend to miss; (d) handling "FLYING" king; (e) learn MOST COMMON shot motifs.

thanks for the advice @kalnap ill look into it, right now i have to head to my OTB blitz event but thanks for the help!

Hi,

Watch high rated tv games and after watching use the analyser for that game.
Use also the analyser for best move in tour game after the match.
Use the puzzles for learning combinations.

Regards

One strategy that can help you win at draughts is keeping your back row in place for as long as you can. That will make it impossible for your opponent to crown one of their pieces early on in the game. Focus on crowning more pieces than your opponent, which will give you a competitive edge.

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