Checkers Online
Jump over the other side's pieces, crown your kings and clear the board. Play the computer at three levels, or a friend on the same device.
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How do you play Checkers?
Checkers is a two-player game on the dark squares of an 8 by 8 board. Each side has 12 pieces that move one square diagonally forward. You capture by jumping a piece next to yours, and you must jump when you can. A piece that reaches the far row becomes a king. Capture or block every piece to win.
Checkers rules
- Each side starts with 12 pieces on the dark squares of its three nearest rows. Dark moves first.
- A piece moves one square diagonally forward onto an empty dark square.
- You capture by jumping over a piece next to yours onto the empty square behind it. The jumped piece leaves the board.
- Jumps are mandatory. If you can jump, you must. If the same piece can jump again from where it lands, it must keep jumping.
- A piece that reaches the far row becomes a king, shown with a crown, and the turn ends there.
- A king moves and jumps one square in any diagonal direction, forwards or backwards. Kings do not fly across the board.
- You win when the other side has no pieces left or cannot move.
- The game is a draw after 40 moves by each side with no capture and no move by a plain piece, or when the same position comes three times.
Checkers tips
- Keep your back row at home as long as you can. It stops the other side from making kings.
- Move pieces in pairs, one behind the other, so a jump against you can be answered with a jump back.
- Play towards the centre. A piece on the edge can go only one way.
- Look for a two for one: give up one piece when the forced jump lets you take two.
- When you are ahead, exchange pieces. Three against two is easier to win than nine against eight.
- Make the first king, then use it to attack pieces from behind.
Checkers questions
How do you play checkers?
Move your pieces one square diagonally forward on the dark squares. Jump over the other side's pieces to capture them. Reach the far row to make a king, which can also move backwards. You win when the other side has no pieces or no moves.
Do you have to jump in checkers?
Yes. In the standard rules used here a jump is mandatory: if any of your pieces can capture, you must capture. When more than one jump is possible you may choose which one, and a piece that can jump again must keep going.
Is checkers the same as draughts?
Yes. Checkers is the American name and draughts is the British name for the same game. This page uses the English and American rules on an 8 by 8 board with 12 pieces each, where kings move one square at a time.
Can 2 players play on one device?
Yes. Choose 2 players in the first menu. You take turns on the same phone, tablet or computer, and the turn chip shows whose move it is. The board does not turn around.
What are the computer levels?
There are three. Easy looks only one or two moves ahead and makes mistakes. Medium looks about four moves ahead. Hard thinks for about half a second and looks seven to ten moves ahead, so it rarely misses a jump trick.
Can a piece jump backwards?
A plain piece moves and jumps forwards only. A king, the piece with the crown, moves and jumps both forwards and backwards. A piece that becomes a king ends its turn on the crowning square.
What is the daily checkers challenge?
Every day has one opening position, made from six opening moves chosen by the date, so it is the same for every player in the world. You play dark against the medium computer. Win the game to complete the challenge and grow your streak.
Is checkers free here, and does it use real money?
It is free and never uses real money: no deposits, no cash prizes and no betting. The site is paid for by ads. There is nothing to download and no account to make.
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