Swipe inside the board to see every column.
Arrow keys focus squares · Enter/Space selects piece and landing · Tap or click piece, then target
Checkers
Plan diagonal moves, capture when required and crown a man on the far row. Play as Dark against the computer or share one device for a local two-player match; there is no online multiplayer.
About Checkers
Checkers, also known as American checkers or English draughts, is played on the 32 dark squares of an 8×8 board. Each side begins with twelve men. Dark moves first, and a man advances diagonally toward the opponent’s back row.
The computer mode starts with you as Dark and the computer as Light; local mode lets two people take turns on the same device. The game is free, needs no account and does not save matches.
How to play Checkers
- 01Checkers uses the dark squares of an 8×8 board. Dark moves first. In the computer mode, you play Dark and the computer plays Light.
- 02A man moves one square diagonally forward and captures forward by jumping an adjacent opposing piece into the empty square beyond. A king moves one square diagonally forward or backward and captures with a short jump in either direction.
- 03Captures are compulsory, but you may choose any available complete route; you do not have to take the route that captures the most pieces. Once a jump chain starts, continue it until no further jump is available. Reaching the king row during a capture crowns the man and ends the turn.
- 04You win when the opponent has no pieces or no legal move. This browser version automatically draws on a third identical board and side to move, or after each side has made 40 turns with no man move or capture.
Checkers controls
- Keyboard
- Use the arrow keys to focus squares. Press Enter or Space to select a piece, then choose its landing square. Continue selecting landing squares to complete a jump chain.
- Touch or mouse
- Tap or click a piece, then tap or click its target square. When a capture is required, choose one of the legal capture routes shown by the board.
- Modes and actions
- Choose the computer opponent or local two-player mode. Undo in computer mode returns to the start of your previous turn, including the computer reply; in local mode it undoes the complete previous turn. Restarting or changing mode begins a fresh game.
Checkers: levels and progress
Checkers is an 8×8 single-board match rather than a level campaign. Choose computer mode, where you are Dark and the computer is Light, or local two-player mode on one device. Choosing a different mode starts a new match.
This browser game automatically calls a draw when the same board and side to move recur for the third time, or when each player’s previous 40 moves contain no man advancing toward the king row and no piece being captured. Tournament rules phrase these as claims to a referee; this game applies them automatically.
Checkers tips and strategies
Keep men connected
A man that advances alone can become a target. Support it with nearby pieces and keep an eye on the squares where a forced capture could land.
Choose the whole jump route
You may choose any legal capture route, not only the one that takes the most pieces. Before moving, inspect each continuation and consider the position after the full chain.
Make room for a king
A king can move and capture backward as well as forward, but it still travels only one diagonal square at a time. Protect the path to the far row and use a new king to support other men.
- Before starting a capture, look at the landing square and check whether the same man can continue jumping.
- A forced capture may give your opponent a reply. Consider what their next jump could be before choosing among capture routes.
- Keep a path toward the far row open so a man can become a king, while watching for pieces that could be trapped on the edge.
Checkers FAQ
Can I play against another person online?
No. Choose the computer opponent or play local two-player by taking turns on the same device.
Does Checkers save my match?
No. Matches are not saved. Restarting or switching modes starts a fresh game.
Is the computer opponent unbeatable?
No. It searches a bounded set of legal moves and is a casual opponent, not a guarantee of the strongest possible play.
When are captured pieces removed during a jump chain?
They remain pending until the complete chain ends, then are removed together. A man that reaches the king row during a capture is crowned, and its turn ends there.
What does Undo restore?
In computer mode, Undo returns to the start of your previous turn, rolling back both your move and the computer reply. In local two-player mode, it restores the position before the complete previous turn.
How is a repeated-position draw checked?
The browser counts a repeated board together with whose turn it is. On the third occurrence, it declares a draw automatically.