QuadLevel 3D Checkers (Draughts)

Star Trek TOS 1966 Episode 'Alternative Factor'

Chess3D is not affiliated with CBS or Star Trek in any way. The designs shown in the 1960s series inspired the creation of the QuadLevel games.
It was later discovered that this was a 4x4x4 3D Space Tic Tac Toe Set.

Set Up the Board

Requires two sets of checkers on a 4×8×4 board. A checker is placed on every black square in the first three columns.

The Change In Distance Rule (CID)

The game may be played with CID on or off. In traditional checkers a piece always changes its distance toward the opponent when it moves. Under CID, a checker that began on the A-rank must remain on that rank when changing boards and must advance or retreat rather than slide sideways between levels.

CID is less critical in checkers than in chess because power balance between pieces does not change as dramatically. Some players prefer CID for normal movement but allow non-CID capturing to enable spectacular multi-jump combinations.

A caution: Without the CID it is easier for a defender to escape endlessly, which can lengthen games or produce more draws. See the YouTube demonstration for examples.

See the checkers youtube

The Moves

Checkers move one square forward in four directions: diagonally left or right on the same board, up one board, or down one board. Example: a checker on 2c2 (or Level2) may move to 2d3, 2b3, 1c3, or 3c3.

Capturing

Capture is compulsory in standard play. A checker jumps an adjacent enemy diagonally in any of the four directions and lands on the next square or board if it is vacant. Multi-jump captures must be continued whenever legal and can, in rare positions, remove many pieces in a single move.

Example: a checker on a3 Level1 may capture an enemy on a4 Level2 by landing on a5 Level3 if that square is empty.

King

Reaching the eighth rank promotes a checker to King (two pieces stacked). Kings may move and capture in all eight directions, including backward. If promotion occurs during a capture sequence, the King may continue capturing backward immediately.

Object of the Game

Win by capturing or blocking all opposing pieces.

Variants

• Normal: CID enforced and capture compulsory.
• Fun: CID for movement but freer diagonal captures.
• No-CID: completely free movement and captures.
• No Forced Capture: beginner variant.

End-Game Notes

In endings such as 2 Kings vs 1 King, the extra dimension gives the defender significant running room; three Kings may be required to force a win.