How to play Checkers
- Each player starts with 12 pieces on the dark squares of the three rows nearest them. Coral moves first.
- On your turn, move one piece one square diagonally forward onto an empty dark square.
- To capture, jump diagonally over an enemy piece onto the empty square behind it. If you can jump, you must — and if your piece can jump again, it keeps going in the same move.
- Reach the far side and your piece is crowned a king. Kings move and jump one square diagonally, forwards or backwards.
- Win by capturing all your opponent's pieces or leaving them with no move.
Strategy tips
- Keep your back row filled as long as you can — it stops your opponent from getting kings.
- Head for the centre. Middle pieces have more moves; edge pieces get stuck.
- Move in pairs. A lone piece is easy to jump, but a piece with a friend right behind it is safe.
- Look for two-for-one shots: give away one piece so your opponent must jump, then jump two of theirs back.
- When you're ahead, trade pieces. With fewer pieces left, your extra one counts for more.
Three ways to play
Solo: jump puzzles — a fresh challenge every day, the same for everyone. vs Computer: four characters from Rookie Robo (easy) to Grandmaster Owl (expert); beat each one to earn its star. vs Friend: pass the device, or send an invite link and play online — no account needed.
Variants
8×8 Classic is the standard game with 12 pieces each. 6×6 Quick has 6 pieces each in two rows — games take a few minutes, great for younger kids. A game is a draw after 40 moves each with no capture and no uncrowned piece moved, or if the same position comes up three times. Solo mode has five daily jump puzzles: find the biggest multi-jump, or the clever move that wins a piece.
About Checkers
Jumping games are very old. Alquerque was played across the Middle East and Moorish Spain, and around the 12th century, probably in France, its jumping idea moved onto a chessboard and became draughts. These rules were set in England — William Payne wrote one of the first English books on the game in 1756 — and it's called draughts in Britain and checkers in North America. In 2007 a University of Alberta team proved with their program Chinook that perfect play from both sides always ends in a draw. Easy to learn and deep enough for the whole family, it's a perfect first strategy game.
FAQ
Do you have to jump in checkers?
Yes. If any of your pieces can capture, you must. If there's more than one jump, you choose which — but you must finish every jump in that chain. The pieces that must jump glow.
How do kings move?
One square diagonally in any direction, and they can jump backwards too. Kings don't fly across the board like in some other draughts games.
What if a piece is crowned in the middle of a jump?
The move ends there. The new king waits for your next turn before it can jump again.
Is checkers the same as draughts?
Yes. American checkers and English draughts are the same game. International draughts is a different version on a 10×10 board.
Can I play checkers with a friend online?
Yes. Choose vs Friend, then invite with a link — no sign-up needed. Or share one device and take turns.