Checkers
StrategyFree to playJump over opponent pieces and capture them!
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How to Play
Checkers is a classic board game on an 8×8 grid. Move diagonally on dark squares and capture opponent pieces by jumping over them. Reach the far row to crown a king that can move backward.
Take all opponent pieces or block them completely to win.
Both sides open with twelve pieces on the dark squares of the first three rows. Ordinary pieces move and capture only forward, diagonally, one square at a time; a capture hops over an adjacent enemy into the empty square beyond and removes it. Reaching the far row crowns a king, which keeps the same diagonal movement but gains the ability to travel and capture backward as well.
Note that jumps are optional in this version — there is no forced-capture rule — so you can decline a jump when taking it would expose you. The game ends when one side has no pieces left.
Controls
- Click piece — Select
- Click highlighted square — Move or jump
- Restart — New game
Tips & Tricks
- 1Control the center early for more jump options
- 2Don't leave back-row pieces undefended too soon
- 3Plan double jumps — they can swing momentum fast
- 4Kings are powerful; protect them once crowned
- 5Because captures are not forced, you can refuse a bad jump; use that to avoid walking into a recapture
- 6Keeping a piece on your back row denies your opponent the far row, which is the only way they can crown a king
- 7Trade pieces only when you are ahead — the win condition is your opponent running out of pieces entirely
Frequently Asked Questions
Must I jump if possible?
No. This version has no forced-capture rule, so you may choose a different move even when a jump is available.
Can kings move backward?
Yes. A crowned king moves and captures diagonally in both directions, unlike an ordinary piece which only moves forward.
How do I get a king?
Move a piece to the farthest row from your side and it is crowned immediately.
How do I win?
Remove all of your opponent's pieces, or leave them with no legal move.
Is this American checkers?
It follows common 8×8 rules on dark squares with diagonal movement and jumping captures.
Can a piece capture more than one in a turn?
Yes, if after landing another enemy sits diagonally adjacent with an empty square beyond — you can continue the chain in a single turn.
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