You can't play the game properly without knowing the rules. I've had from inexperienced players a few wtf reactions when doing en passant or castling or with 1 guy who had thought that king can't capture any piece and I just went ahead and did it. You can't play anygame well without knowing the rules
Does knowing the rules in chess make you a better checkers player?

Oh heck, I read the question: does Knowing chess rules make you better at chess... :/ Didn't expect someone on chess website ask about checkers :D
Does it?