Checkers
About the game and how to play
Checkers (draughts) is the classic two-player strategy game: pieces move diagonally on the dark squares, you capture by jumping over enemy pieces, and a man that reaches the far row becomes a king. Three rule sets are here: Russian draughts with flying kings and backward captures, English checkers, and international draughts on a 10×10 board. Play the computer at six levels from Beginner to Grandmaster, take turns with a friend on one device with a clock, open an online room with a code, or find the winning combination in tactic puzzles. Games against the computer move your rating, and there is a daily tactic that is the same for everyone.
- Players
- 1–2 players
- Category
- Board and card games
- Price
- Free, no download, no sign-up
- Where to play
- In the browser on phone, tablet and computer
Can be played with friends in an online room
How to play
- Choose the rules: Russian, English or international draughts.
- Choose a mode: against the computer (with level and colour), two players, online or tactic puzzles.
- Tap a piece and then where it should go, or drag it; capturing is compulsory and pieces that must capture are ringed in red.
- Take all your opponent's pieces or leave them without a move to win.
Tips
- Hold the centre and advance in pairs: a piece with a friend behind it cannot be jumped.
- Don't empty your back row early — it stops your opponent from crowning.
- Use compulsory capture: give up one piece so the forced jump lands where you take two or three back.
- When you are ahead, trade pieces — the fewer that remain, the easier the extra piece wins.
Frequently asked questions
Which checkers rules can I play?
Three: Russian draughts (8×8, men capture backwards too, kings fly along the diagonals), English checkers (8×8, men capture forward only, kings step one square) and international draughts (10×10, you must take the most pieces possible). Capturing is compulsory in all of them.
How strong is the checkers computer?
There are six levels: Beginner, Easy, Medium, Hard, Master and Grandmaster, each with an approximate rating. Every game against the computer moves your own rating, and you can play white, black or a random colour.
What are checkers tactic puzzles?
Positions taken from real games where you must find the combination — usually a sacrifice and forced captures — that wins material. A wrong move can be retried; a hint shows first the piece, then the whole move. There is also a daily tactic, the same for everyone.
When is a checkers game a draw?
When the same position occurs three times, when 25 moves each pass with only kings moving and no capture, or when both players agree. Online you can offer a draw and your opponent can accept it.