>We call that game "draughts" over here. And we "crown" a piece that reaches the other side, not "king" it.
>
Yes, I know. I used to play draughts ((Internetial checkers) and Russian checkers at my youth. I played a bit American Checkers on yahoo, when I just came to US.

>In France they have a similar game, called "Dames" (DAM) which is played on a 10 X 10 board, with 15 pieces, and, I think, one is not forced to take and opponent's piece.

Hmm, that sounds like a complex game...