Game

Checkers: how to play

This is checkers on an 8x8 board, twelve pieces per side, played on the dark squares against the computer. You control the red pieces, which move up the board, and the computer plays black. Three levels let beginners learn compulsory capture.

Controls

Click or tap a piece to select it; its destinations are marked with dots. Then click the destination square. When a capture is compulsory, the pieces that can make it are highlighted, and choosing another piece shows a message explaining why. Undo takes back your last move together with the reply to it.

Rules

  • Ordinary pieces move one square diagonally forward.
  • Capture is compulsory: you jump forward over an adjacent rival piece into the empty square behind it, and further jumps continue automatically.
  • A piece reaching the far row is crowned a king, which moves and captures one square diagonally in any direction.
  • You win by leaving your rival without legal moves; 80 moves without a capture or a man's move is a draw.

Tips

  • Keep your back row intact as long as you can, so rival pieces find it harder to be crowned.
  • Use compulsory capture as a weapon: offer one piece to force a jump that opens a double capture for you.

Choosing a level

Easy is a gentle way to practise chains of captures, because it picks any legal move at random. Medium searches three moves ahead and punishes obvious mistakes. Hard searches six moves ahead and values kings and advanced pieces. Changing level starts a new game.

Phone and accessibility

Each square is a button with a text label saying whether it holds a red piece, a black piece, a king or nothing. The selected piece, destinations and last move are highlighted, so play works with touch, mouse or keyboard.

Frequently asked questions

Can I choose which capture to make?

Yes. If several captures exist you must take one, but you decide which.

What levels are there?

Easy plays random legal moves, Medium looks three moves ahead and Hard looks six.

What do I earn?

60, 100 or 150 virtual coins for winning on Easy, Medium or Hard, and 20 for a draw. They have no monetary value.