How to play checkers
Checkers is played on the dark squares of an 8×8 board. Each player starts with 12 men. White moves first.
Rules
- Men move one square diagonally forward, but capture both forwards and backwards by jumping an enemy piece onto the empty square behind it.
- Capturing is compulsory. If the same piece can capture again after a jump, it must keep going.
- A man that reaches the far row becomes a king. Kings move and capture any distance along a diagonal.
- You win by capturing all enemy pieces or leaving your opponent with no legal move. 25 king moves each without a capture is a draw.
Tips to win
- Keep your men together – a lone piece is easy to capture.
- Guard your back row for as long as you can so your opponent cannot crown a king.
- Forced captures are a weapon: offer one piece so that you can answer with a double jump.
Ranked play
Ratings start at 1200 and only change after games against people. The computer is for practice.