How to play Checkers
Checkers is a classic capture game. Every move is either a step or a capture, and the moment a piece reaches the far side of the board it becomes a king and reverses direction. That one rule creates almost all of the game’s tension.
The goal: capture all of your opponent’s pieces, or block them so none can move.
Rules
- The board is 8×8, played on the dark squares only
- Red moves first, then players alternate
- Pieces move diagonally forward one square
- A piece captures by jumping over an adjacent enemy piece into the empty square beyond
- If a jump is available you must take it — you may not choose a plain step instead
- A piece reaching the last row is promoted to a king and moves in both directions from then on
Capturing, and promotion
Simple capture
One jump over an adjacent enemy piece. A piece can chain several captures in a single turn.
Long jump
The same idea, longer range. Kings jump from further away, which is what makes them valuable.
Promotion
A man landing on the far row flips to a king. The flip is immediate and changes which directions it can move.
Strategy
1. Do not jump into a trap
A capture that leaves your piece capturable simply trades one man for one. Count the landing square before you commit.
2. Get a king early
A king is worth roughly two men because it moves backwards. Trading a man to reach the far row is usually worth it.
3. Force the tempo
When you have a choice between a step and a jump, the jump is forced — use that to make your opponent move the way you want.
4. Push from the back
Advancing one man at a time from the rear keeps your options open. Moving everything at once rarely works.
Playing here
Modes on BoardDuel: vs AI — play a live engine at three difficulty levels; Pass & play — two players, one screen; Friend room — share a six-character code and play remotely.
FAQ
What happens when a piece is blocked?
It simply cannot move. The game does not end automatically — it ends when one side has no pieces left, or no legal move for any of them.
Can a king be captured by a man?
No. Kings may only be captured by other kings. This is why a lone king against a full set of men is still a real game.
Is checkers solved?
Not fully, unlike some simpler board games. Opening theory is well documented, but middlegame play still has plenty of unsolved positions.