By Noyon Rahman · Updated August 2026 · Reviewed for accuracy against the live game

About Checkers

Checkers — known as draughts in much of the world — is one of the oldest and most elegant strategy games ever devised. Two players face off across an 8×8 board with twelve pieces each, and every piece moves diagonally, capturing by jumping. The rules fit on an index card, yet the game hides genuine depth: sacrifices, forced sequences, and the long fight to crown a king. This version implements standard rules with mandatory captures — if a jump is available, you must take it — plus multi-jump chains, king promotion, and an AI opponent with two difficulty levels.

How to Play Checkers

You control the black pieces and move first. Pieces move one square diagonally forward onto an empty dark square. To capture, jump diagonally over an adjacent enemy piece and land on the empty square directly beyond — the jumped piece is removed. Captures are compulsory: if you can jump, you must. After landing, if the same piece can jump again, the chain continues and you must complete it. Reach the far row of the board and your piece is crowned a King, gaining the ability to move and capture both forwards and backwards. You win by capturing all enemy pieces or by leaving your opponent with no legal move.

Tips & Strategies

Control the center. Pieces on edge squares have only half the mobility and can never be jumped over from outside the board.
Keep your back row intact as long as possible — a solid back row prevents enemy pieces from promoting.
Trade pieces when you are ahead and avoid trades when you are behind — material advantage decides most games.
Look for two-for-one shots: forcing an opponent to jump into a position where you can capture two pieces back is the classic winning tactic.
Rush a king: even a single crowned piece can dominate the endgame, so promote whenever the path is safe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are captures mandatory in Checkers?

Yes. Standard American checkers requires you to capture whenever a jump is available, so this game only highlights those moves. You may choose which jump to make, but you cannot ignore jumps entirely — passing up a capture is illegal.

What is a King and how do I get one?

A King is a crowned piece created when one of your pieces reaches the far edge of the board. Kings move and capture diagonally in all four directions instead of only forward, making them far more powerful than ordinary pieces.

How do I win at Checkers?

Capture all of your opponent's pieces, or leave them with no legal move on their turn. If neither player can force a win, the game is a draw — but with careful endgame play, a one-piece advantage is usually enough to convert.

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Checkers