According to an article on the American Checkers Federation web site, http://usacheckers.com/originofcheckers.php, Checkers is the oldest game in the world and dates back over 4000 years.  According to inscriptions in the temples of Thebes, the Egyptian kings took time out from building the Pyramids to mop up their courtiers at Checkers.

In Homer’s Odyssey, reference is made to games being played in the palace of Ulysses in Ithaca. Also, Plato makes frequent mention of the games in his writings. Historical writings tend to show that in Medieval Times, kings and queens used the strategy of the board game their preparation for war. Somewhere, it is mentioned in Roman history that Cleopatra also played the game. It is said that she made a "move" on Mark Anthony and bored four children.

In an article written by Mr. Charles Walker, former secretary of the American Checkers Federation and founder of the Checkers Hall of Fame, he claimed that before 1900 International contacts were difficult, with the result that in a number of other countries, especially in the English-speaking territories, the board of 64 squares was maintained; consequently, the game of checkers is no international game any more. In addition, in various non English-speaking countries using the 64-square board local changes were made in the rules so that even that board lost its universal laws.  He pointed out this fact especially has become the greatest handicap for the game of checkers as compared to chess, which is being played all over the world in a universal manner; it is extremely regrettable because the checker game is equal to chess as far as depth, beauty and complexity concerns.

As the results of various non-English speaking countries modifying the rules of the 64 board, the game of pool checkers aroused. Its rules were similar to the 10x10 and Spanish checkers with the exception that pieces could capture backwards whereby in Spanish checkers the pieces could not capture backwards. The game was introduced into the southern section of the United States at around the XVIIIth Century when the French settled in that region and it remained quite popular even until today..

As popular as Pool Checkers is today in the USA one will find that the rules of the game varies according to the region where it is played. Different regions modify or incorporate rules to accommodate its players. Therefore, leaving the game without any universal rules to be played by.

The American Pool Checker Association. has attempted to identify and maintain a set of rules used to guide the players who participate in its National Tournament that is held every year in July. Even its rules are quite controversial amongst it players. A summary of these rules can be found on this site under the heading of Pool Checkers Rules.