How to Play Checkers

Checkers (also called draughts) is a two-player strategy game played on an 8×8 board. The goal is simple: capture all your opponent's pieces, or leave them with no legal move.

Board setup

Place the board so each player has a dark square in the bottom-left corner. Each player starts with 12 pieces on the dark squares of the three rows closest to them. The two middle rows begin empty.

How pieces move

• Regular pieces move one square diagonally, forward only, onto a dark square.
• Kings (crowned pieces) move one square diagonally in any direction.
• Only one piece can occupy a square at a time.

Captures and jumps

If an opponent's piece sits diagonally next to yours and the square beyond is empty, you must jump over it and remove it from the board. If another jump is available from the landing square, you must keep jumping in the same turn — chains of captures are how games swing quickly.

Kinging

When a piece reaches the last row on the opponent's side, it is crowned a king. Kings move and jump in both directions, which makes them much stronger. Turning a piece into a king often ends the mid-game and starts the chase.

Winning

You win when your opponent has no pieces left, or has pieces but no legal move on their turn. If neither player can force progress, the game is a draw.

Beginner strategy

• Control the center — central pieces threaten more squares.
• Keep your back row intact early so your opponent can't easily king.
• Trade pieces when you're ahead; avoid trades when you're behind.
• Look one move ahead for forced jump chains before every move.
• Push for a king when the board opens up — a single king often decides endgames.

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