lidraughts.org

Rename "Russian draughts" to "draughts64"

@PhilipAfanasyev As I said above, there is no historical evidence that it should be called Russian. No Russian hegemony!

I will not cease to highlight this discussion, and there is a reason.
For many years, many western nations had simplified their views on nations that were incorporated into USSR by labeling them as "Russians". In the era where cultural diversity is acknowledged and promoted worldwide, there is no reason to support Russian hegemony in any sphere of life, including draughts.
There are authentic draughts variants which are played mainly in Russia and which are honouring famous Russian cities:
a) Pskov draughts - hexagonal draughts variant, board is represented in http://abstractgames.ru/578343_600.jpg and http://abstractgames.ru/578196_600.jpg ;
b) Novgorod draughts - draughts variant for three players, board is represented in http://www.fishka.spb.ru/artickles/igroteka/novgorod/novgorod.files/image002.jpg;
c) Stavropol draughts - draughts variant where a player can move and jump with opponent's pieces (very exciting variant, btw.).
d) Orenburg draughts - innovative draughts variant where a player can capture only one draughtsman of opponent and where jumping backwards by simple draughtsman is prohibited.
These variants I had spotted being played in some clubs, but I am convinced that there are many other draughts variants which are dedicated to Russian cities and regions. Thus, no one diminishes the merits of Russian players who had given their contribution to draughts world!
Some minor nations in Russia have their own draughts variants. So far, we know:
a) Altai shatra or Altaic draughts;
b) Abkhazian draughts;
c) Ossetic draughts or Tama;
d) Khakas draughts or Tobit.
We can't afford to disrespect the creativity of these minor nations by spreading word about "Russian" draughts and inviting them in "Russian" tournaments! Therefore, I invite every player to respect cultural diversity and to choose better label for "Russian" draughts: "Petrov draughts" is very neutral designation, and I'm convinced that any national federation or association which includes "Russian" draughts in the list of promoted variants, would accept these changes wholeheartedly.

Fun fact: The Russian draughts have this name from 19 century :P
And the first book for this variant printed in 1884
Russian they call because these draughts were played mainly in Russia. From 19 century.
Renaming to Draughts 64 it's a terrible idea, because draughts 64 it's a common name of Russian, Brazilian and Pool.

Fun fact: @IvaMiMarc is spreading false news, and he is a liar.
Here is a prove.
It is in 1827 (55 years earlier than @IvaMiMarc indicated, btw.) than well known chess master and theoretician Alexander Petrov published his treatise on draughts which in Russian is called "Руководство к основательному познанию шашечной игры, или Искусство обыгрывать всех в простыя шашки" (cf. ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A0%D1%83%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B4%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE_%D0%BA_%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BC%D1%83_%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8E_%D1%88%D0%B0%D1%88%D0%B5%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B9_%D0%B8%D0%B3%D1%80%D1%8B ). In Englilsh: Manual for acquiring fundamental knowledge of draughts game or Art on defeating all in simple draughts".

"Russian draughts" is a specific term which is forged and coined by FOREIGNERS who disrespect all nations which were part of Russian empire.
It is a rare case when native Russian speaker applies an attribute "Russian", speaking on draughts variant which is played from childhood! Moreover, under Stalin regime, some had suggested to call draughts variant as "Soviet draughts" (in Russian, "Советские шашки", cf. book knigogid.ru/books/1846536-sovetskie-shashki ) in order to eliminate any connection with Russian empire. Yet that attempt was not successful.
Why did I highlight belonging to Russian empire?
I did it, because great old masters of Russian empire had put good amount of theory. Moreover, as it can be proved, many of them (same one Petrov, as well as Bodyanski, Sarghin and many others) maintained correspondence with FOREIGN players: they know variety rules. However, they adapted many ideas from different draughts variants in order to form theoretical foundations of their native draughts variant. In his treatise of draughts, Alexander Petrov borrowed idea from Spanish draughts on "3 kings vs. 1 king" endgame which is known to western players as Montero triangle. It is shame to acknowledge that many Russian coaches (and even some Russian masters) refuse to admit that "Petrov triangle" is not justified term. Again, Alexander Petrov should be honoured for his work, and he deserves that his surname is attached to variant which he had promoted!
Nowadays, no one claim that "Russian" draughts is played mainly in Russia. There are many great draughts schools outside Russia where ¨"Russian" draughts are popular. Many representatives from Belarusian and Ukrainian draughts schools had been more succesful than Russian players, even in the field of draughts theory. For example, no one can aspire to get a title of master in "Russian" draughts, if he or she didn't study Zinovy Tzirik's works on endgames, yet Zinovy Tzirik was UKRAINIAN player from KHARKIV city.
Therefore, there is no reason to maintain an attribute "Russian" draughts to variant which was established and promoted by Alexander Petrov.
Let us rename "Russian draughts" to "Petrov draughts", giving him historical justice!

Petrov made an OFFICIAL document. But it doesn't mean that before 1827 didn't exist rules for that variant. Shashki and Russian draughts are the same. Shashki it's Russian name, Russian draughts English, like Portuguese draughts,in Portugal they call "Damas Classicas" (Classic draughts). @kalnap can you understand that in different countries are different variants of draughts? Like Frisian or Brazilian, Russian draughts are the draughts that played in Russia some centuries ago. Brazilian are popular in Brazil, Frisian in Netherlands. @kalnap It's so simple! What is the problem?

@IvaMiMarc You are refusing to go into details.
Petrov did describe FOLKS game played in Russian empire, and in FOLKS language that variant was called 'крепки' (literary, strong ones) in opposition to 'поддавки' (Russian name for antidraughts). So, folks didn't use any reference to Russia.
'Shashki' is Russian name for the entire class of draughts games, which can be played under different rules.
No one can attest that it was Russian (but, for example, not Ukrainian, Belorusian, or some foreigner who settled in Russia for years) that invented specific rule of 'fly-through promotion' which is distinctive mark. Yet, certainly, it was not invented before 18th century when Russia had established intensive trading relationships with western Europe, whose sailors and merchants played draughts according to Pool rules. Pool draughts are older than Russian!
As I said above, there are MANY variants of draughts being played in Russia, and each variant which honours some city or region of Russia, is bringing indirect honour also to Russia, and it is bad idea to overshadow all these precious variants by attribute 'Russian'!
As for Brazilian draughts, we can prove that this variant was carried into Brazil by Polish and German immigrants, but, just for fun fact, let me indicate that in Russian this variant was known as 'малые польские шашки' or 'little Polish draughts'. Therefore, Poland has rights to claim that Brazilian draughts should be renamed, but Poland is so concerned and obsessed with country promotion by attributes, unlike Russia who diminishes merits of some incorporated nations by attribute 'Russian'.

What will you say about Portuguese draughts? :) In Portugal they call Classic Draughts "Damas classicas"
Ok, with Brazilian understood, but why we call Brazilian not Polish? Because it's English official naming. Like Russian. Nobody says in Russia Russian draughts, only Shashki. If it's a variant Russians call the variant (Brazilian, Frisian). The TRADITIONAL draughts in Russia are Russian! It's like in Britain, the TRADITIONAL draughts are checkers (English). From this it can be concluded that EVERY COUNTRY has the right to name draughts in honor of that country.

@IvaMiMarc There is only one draughts variant which can be labeled as "classic" : it is Spanish draughts where the transition from alquerque to contemporary draughtsboard took place.
There is nothing wrong to call national variants according to nation.
However, there are difficulties when it comes to MULTIETHNIC or MULTIREGIONAL countries !
For example, Frisian draughts is native variant in Friesland, but not in whole Netherlands!
The problem is that there is no specified label which could characterize Russian regions where more than 90% of population are ethnic Russians. In case of UK, we know where English were historically the major ethnic group, and it allows us to define 'English draughts'. Yet in case of Russia, you risk to exclude some regions where Russians live! Yet if you insist that Russian draughts is played everywhere where Russian people live, you discriminate ALL ethnic groups which live in Russia, including Russian Jews. Without any jokes, there are many talented Jewish players who play draughts according to rules which were promoted by Alexander Petrov! Therefore, in case of 'Russian draughts', it was BAD idea to classify variant according to some country, 'Petrov draughts' is much better idea, and it doesn't diminish the contribution of Russian players to the community of draughts players.

@IvaMiMarc Besides, you need to keep in mind that 'checkers' is American English word for BRITISH ENGLISH word 'draughts', therefore, you had made an attempt to justify your opinion by false analogy.

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