Checkers
Free online board game · Play the computer · No sign-up
Checkers in a nutshell
Checkers, known as draughts in Britain, is a two-player game on a chequered board. You move your pieces diagonally forward and capture by jumping over your opponent's pieces. Reach the far side to make a king, and win by taking or blocking all of your opponent's pieces.
- Set out the pieces. Each player places 12 pieces on the dark squares of the three rows nearest to them. The two middle rows start empty.
- Move diagonally forward. On your turn, move one piece one square diagonally forward onto an empty dark square.
- Jump to capture. If an enemy piece is diagonally next to yours with an empty square behind it, jump over it and remove it.
- Captures are compulsory. If you can capture, you must. If after one jump you can jump again, you must keep going with the same piece.
At a glance
- Players
- 2 players one against one
- Length
- 10 to 30 minutes per game
- Equipment
- 8 by 8 board 12 pieces each
- Learn it in
- 5 minutes a lifetime to master
Checkers questions
Is checkers the same as draughts?
Yes. Checkers is the American name and draughts is the British name for the same game on an 8 by 8 board. International draughts is a different, larger game on a 10 by 10 board.
Do you have to jump in checkers?
Yes, in the standard rules. If you can capture, you must. If more than one capture is possible, you may choose which one to make.
Can ordinary pieces capture backwards?
Not in English draughts or American checkers. Only kings can capture backwards. In International draughts, ordinary pieces may capture backwards too.
Who moves first in checkers?
The player with the darker pieces (usually black or red) moves first in the standard rules.
What happens if neither side can win?
If both players agree that no progress can be made, the game is a draw. This often happens when only a few kings are left on each side.
