Alquerque and Draughts
The two games, alquerque and draughts or chequers are closely related,
the European game of draughts most probably originating from the Islamic
game of alquerque in early Tudor times. Both games are a battle between
two equally matched undifferentiated armies - an apparent simplicity that
masks the need for high strategy.
Alquerque
Alquerque
most likely has origins in Egypt and was introduced into Europe by Arabs
invading Spain in the early 8th C. It’s Arabic name 
El-quirkat
was corrupted to the Spanish alquerque. The game is similar to draughts
or checkers; it has the same number of pieces and rules of capture and
the strategies of play are comparable.
It
is likely that draughts originated when alquerque was played on a chessboard
in the late 15th C.
Wooden board (8x8”) with spherical fired clay pieces in a leather
pouch - £25
Leather board (8x8”) with conical fired clay pieces in a leather
pouch - £10
Draughts
Most probably originating in Europe when the game of alquerque was played
on a chess board. The number of pieces and rules of capture are the
same and the huffing rule is usually used. Strategy is similar but
affected by having two clear rows between each side. There is also
the additional rule of promotion which some believe may have been borrowed
from chess, though this is disputed. The few references to draughts
before 1500 possibly suggest it was not unknown but that it was certainly
not common. After 1500, along with modern chess it was more widely
played. As with chess the board was orientated with a light coloured
square to the left of each player, modern chess and draughts have a
dark square in this position.
Draughts board (9x9”) - £10
Set of Draughts men in a leather pouch for 9x9” board- £10
Draughts board (13x13”) - £15
Set of Draughts men in a leather pouch for 13x13” board- £15