About Checkers
Checkers, also called draughts, is played on the dark squares of an 8 × 8 board with twelve pieces each. This version follows the American rules used in tournaments: pieces move diagonally forward, captures are compulsory, a capture continues for as long as another jump is possible, and a piece that reaches the far side is crowned king. Play the robot at Easy, Normal or Hard, or a friend on the same device.
How to play Checkers
- Pieces move one square diagonally forward on the dark squares. Black moves first.
- Jump over an enemy piece next to you onto the empty square beyond to capture it. Captures are compulsory, and a jump keeps going while another jump is possible.
- A piece that reaches the far row is crowned king and can then move and jump backwards too.
- Tap a piece, then its landing square (for a double jump, tap each landing square in turn), or drag it. You win when your opponent has no move left.
Tips & strategy
- Keep your back row filled as long as you can: it stops the robot from crowning kings.
- Pieces in the centre control more squares than pieces on the edges, which can only move one way.
- Because captures are compulsory, you can offer one piece to force a jump that sets up a double jump for you.
- When you are ahead, trade pieces one for one: the fewer pieces left, the bigger your advantage.
Checkers: questions and answers
Do I have to capture?
Yes. If any of your pieces can jump, you must jump, and you must keep jumping with the same piece while it can. When there are several captures you may choose which one to make.
How do kings move?
A king moves one square diagonally in any direction and can jump backwards as well as forwards. A piece that is crowned during a jump stops there.
When is the game a draw?
When forty moves each go by with no capture and no ordinary piece moving, or when the same position comes up three times.
Who moves first?
Black, as in the official rules. Choose Black to start or White to let the robot open.