Dam Haji
Malaysia · Singapore · Brunei
The great draughts game of the Malay world, most famous in its giant 12×12 form with 30 men per side. The king is called the 'haji', honouring one who has completed the pilgrimage — the piece that has completed its journey across the board.
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Note: a few tournament subtleties (draw rules, rare priority cases) are simplified in this online version.
Rules
- Men move and capture diagonally forward.
- The haji (king) flies along the diagonals.
- Capturing is compulsory; the longest chain is not required.
- Also commonly played on 8×8 and 10×10 boards with the same rules.
About the game
Dam haji is a kampung (village) classic played on verandas and in coffee shops across Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, and it appears in school tournaments to this day. The name itself is beloved: the promoted piece 'becomes a haji', a small cultural poem built into the rules.