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Checkers – jump, crown your kings and clear the board

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Quick answer

Checkers is a free two-player diagonal capture board game (draughts) that plays instantly in your browser on phones, tablets and computers, with no download, sign-up or ads. Capture all of the opponent's pieces or leave them without a legal move.

Checkers at a glance
What it isTwo-player diagonal capture board game (draughts)
GoalCapture all of the opponent's pieces or leave them without a legal move
ModesAmerican rules on 8×8: compulsory jumps, multi-jump chains, kings that move both ways; Easy, Medium and Hard computer or 2 players
ControlsTap a piece, then each landing square; arrow keys and Enter; undo
Players1 against the computer, or 2 on one device
PriceFree, no ads, no sign-up, no download
Works onPhones, tablets and computers, in any modern browser

Strategy guide: Checkers Strategy: Forced Jumps and Endgame Tactics

Board games compared

Board games compared
GameTypeModesControls
ChessTwo-player strategy board gameAgainst the computer (Beginner, Club, Tactician: minimax search with alpha-beta pruning and piece-square tables) or 2 players on one device; play White or BlackTap or click a piece, then a highlighted square; arrow keys and Enter; undo
CheckersTwo-player diagonal capture board game (draughts)American rules on 8×8: compulsory jumps, multi-jump chains, kings that move both ways; Easy, Medium and Hard computer or 2 playersTap a piece, then each landing square; arrow keys and Enter; undo
DominoesTile-matching game with a double-six setDraw game or Block game; against 1, 2 or 3 computer playersTap a glowing tile to play it; ◀ or ▶ when it fits both ends; Draw and Pass buttons
BackgammonTwo-player race board game with diceAgainst the computer (Easy, Medium, Hard with a one-roll lookahead) or 2 players; gammons and backgammons count double and tripleRoll, tap a checker, then a highlighted point; undo moves until you press Done
Tic Tac ToeTwo-player line-up game (noughts and crosses; Five in a Row / Gomoku)3×3 against Easy, Medium or Unbeatable (full minimax) or 2 players; 15×15 Five in a Row against Easy or HardTap a square; arrow keys and Enter; keys 1-9 on 3×3
Four in a RowTwo-player vertical strategy board gameAgainst the computer (Easy, Medium, Hard with a minimax search) or 2 players on one deviceTap or click a column, or press 1-7; arrow keys and Enter; undo

The classic jumping game

Checkers, also called draughts, is played on the dark squares of an 8 × 8 board. Each side starts with twelve pieces. Red moves first. Pieces move diagonally forward and capture by jumping. Reach the far side to crown a king, and win by capturing every enemy piece or blocking them so they cannot move.

Strategy that wins games

  • Hold the back row. Keep the pieces on your back row at home as long as you can; they stop your opponent from crowning.
  • Take the centre. Pieces in the middle of the board have more moves and support each other.
  • Move in pairs. A piece with a friend behind it cannot be jumped from the front.
  • Use forced jumps. Because captures are compulsory, you can offer one piece to drag an enemy piece into a double jump of your own.
  • Trade when ahead. With more pieces, swap one for one to simplify into an easy win.

Three levels and a two-player mode

Easy is relaxed and good for learning the rules. Medium sees simple traps. Hard plays exchanges to the end and sets traps of its own. Or choose 2 players and play a friend on the same screen.

How to play Checkers

  1. 1

    Move diagonally

    Tap one of your pieces, then a highlighted square. Plain pieces (men) move one square diagonally forward onto a dark square.

  2. 2

    Jump to capture

    Jump over an enemy piece next to you into the empty square behind it to capture it. If a jump is possible you must take it.

  3. 3

    Keep jumping

    If the same piece can jump again after landing, it must continue. Tap each landing square in turn to follow the chain.

  4. 4

    Crown a king

    A man that reaches the far row becomes a king and can move and jump backwards too. Win by taking every enemy piece or leaving it no move.

More board games

  • Chess

    The full game of chess against three computer levels or a friend, with move hints and undo.

  • Dominoes

    Match the open ends with a double-six set. Draw or Block game, two to four players, first to 100.

  • Four in a Row

    Drop discs and line up four before your opponent. Three computer levels or two players.

  • Backgammon

    Race all fifteen checkers home and bear them off first. Three computer levels or a friend.

  • Tic Tac Toe

    Classic 3×3 noughts and crosses with an unbeatable computer, plus Five in a Row on 15×15.

Frequently asked questions

Is jumping compulsory?

Yes, as in the standard American and English rules. When any capture is possible you must make one, and a jumping piece must keep jumping while it can. You may choose which capture to make.

Can kings fly across the board?

No. In these rules a king moves and jumps one square at a time, like a man, but in any diagonal direction. Flying kings belong to international draughts.

What happens when a man is crowned in the middle of a jump?

The move ends there. A newly crowned king has to wait for your next turn before it can jump again.

How strong is the computer?

Easy looks two moves ahead and makes mistakes. Medium looks four moves ahead. Hard searches seven moves deep, follows every exchange to the end and rarely leaves a piece hanging.

When is a game drawn?

When forty moves pass on each side without a capture or a crowning, the game is a draw.

Prefer a solo puzzle?

Sudoku is pure logic with one solution per grid, in four difficulty levels.

Play Sudoku
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