Master the rules, learn the controls, and discover winning strategies with our comprehensive guide.
Simple and intuitive — play on any device
Click a piece to select it, then click the destination square. Or drag and drop the piece directly to where you want it to go.
Tap a piece to select it, then tap the target square. You can also use drag-and-drop by touching and sliding the piece across the board.
When a chain capture is available, the game will highlight your options. Keep clicking or tapping to complete consecutive jumps in a single turn.
Everything you need to know to play your first game
Checkers is played on an 8×8 board with alternating dark and light squares. Only the 32 dark squares are used during play. Each player starts with 12 pieces placed on the dark squares of their three closest rows. The board is oriented so that each player has a dark square in the bottom-left corner.
Regular pieces (men) can only move diagonally forward — one square at a time — onto an empty dark square. You cannot move backward with a regular piece. Players alternate turns, and you must move one piece per turn.
If an opponent's piece is on a diagonally adjacent square and the square beyond it is empty, you must jump over and capture that piece. Captured pieces are removed from the board. If a capture is available, you are required to make it — captures are mandatory in standard rules.
If after a capture your piece lands on a square from which another capture is possible, you must continue jumping. A single piece can capture multiple opponents in one turn through a chain of consecutive jumps. This is one of the most powerful and satisfying moves in checkers.
When one of your pieces reaches the farthest row on the opposite side of the board, it is "kinged" — promoted to a King. Kings are more powerful than regular pieces because they can move and capture diagonally in any direction, both forward and backward. Kings are typically marked with a special symbol or crown.
You win the game by either capturing all of your opponent's pieces or by blocking them so they have no legal moves remaining. If neither player can win, the game may end in a draw. Achieving victory requires a combination of strategic planning, pattern recognition, and tactical execution.
Level up your checkers game with these expert techniques
Pieces in the center of the board have more movement options and control more squares. Avoid hugging the edges early in the game — central dominance gives you tactical flexibility.
Keep your back-row pieces in place as long as possible. They act as a defensive barrier and prevent your opponent from easily kinging their pieces on your side of the board.
Set up situations where you can capture multiple pieces in a single turn. Sometimes sacrificing one piece to create a chain capture of two or three enemy pieces is a winning trade.
When you're ahead in pieces, trading evenly simplifies the board and makes your advantage more decisive. When behind, avoid even trades and look for opportunities to capture without losing pieces.
Move your pieces in pairs or groups rather than sending individual pieces forward alone. A piece with support is harder to capture and creates more threatening positions on the board.
Getting a King early gives you a significant advantage. Once you have a King, use its ability to move backward to control key diagonals and set up captures that regular pieces cannot.
You know the rules, you know the strategies. Now it's time to play!
Play Checkers Master ♟