A gypsum board comprising: a board core layer comprising set gypsum, a front first paper cover sheet having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface contacting a first face of the board core; and a back second paper cover sheet having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface contacting a second face of the board core; wherein the inner surface of at least one of the front first paper cover sheet and the back paper second cover sheet is coated with a starch layer, wherein the starch layer has an absence of gypsum, inorganic filler, organic filler, and latex or other polymer; wherein the starch layer is a continuous starch layer on the entire inner surface of at least one of the front first paper cover sheet and the back second paper cover sheet; wherein the board core layer further comprises additional starch, wherein the core layer is between the front first paper cover sheet and the back second paper cover sheet, wherein the core layer resulted from setting, between the front first paper cover sheet and the back second paper cover sheet, an aqueous slurry comprising a mixture of water and stucco, wherein the stucco comprises calcium sulfate hemihydrate, wherein the aqueous slurry comprises: starch to provide the additional starch of the core layer, at least 60 weight percent said calcium sulfate hemihydrate on a dry basis, about 500 parts by weight to about 3000 parts by weight chloride anion per 1,000,000 parts by weight said calcium sulfate hemihydrate, and said water at a weight ratio of water to the calcium sulfate hemihydrate of 0.2:1 to 1.2:1. a board core layer comprising set gypsum, a front first paper cover sheet having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface contacting a first face of the board core; and a back second paper cover sheet having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface contacting a second face of the board core; wherein the inner surface of at least one of the front first paper cover sheet and the back paper second cover sheet is coated with a starch layer, wherein the starch layer has an absence of gypsum, inorganic filler, organic filler, and latex or other polymer; wherein the starch layer is a continuous starch layer on the entire inner surface of at least one of the front first paper cover sheet and the back second paper cover sheet; wherein the board core layer further comprises additional starch, wherein the core layer is between the front first paper cover sheet and the back second paper cover sheet, wherein the core layer resulted from setting, between the front first paper cover sheet and the back second paper cover sheet, an aqueous slurry comprising a mixture of water and stucco, wherein the stucco comprises calcium sulfate hemihydrate, wherein the aqueous slurry comprises: starch to provide the additional starch of the core layer, at least 60 weight percent said calcium sulfate hemihydrate on a dry basis, about 500 parts by weight to about 3000 parts by weight chloride anion per 1,000,000 parts by weight said calcium sulfate hemihydrate, and said water at a weight ratio of water to the calcium sulfate hemihydrate of 0.2:1 to 1.2:1. starch to provide the additional starch of the core layer, at least 60 weight percent said calcium sulfate hemihydrate on a dry basis, about 500 parts by weight to about 3000 parts by weight chloride anion per 1,000,000 parts by weight said calcium sulfate hemihydrate, and said water at a weight ratio of water to the calcium sulfate hemihydrate of 0.2:1 to 1.2:1. <EOS>