Play Checkers Online
Play checkers free in your browser against the computer. Choose Easy, Medium or Hard, use a hint when you are stuck, and keep an eye on the timer if you like a challenge. Several versions of checkers are available. No download and no sign-up.
How to Play Checkers
Checkers is a two-player strategy game played on the dark squares of a checkerboard. Each player starts with their pieces on the rows closest to them. You move diagonally forward, jump over your opponent’s pieces to capture them, and win by capturing every enemy piece or leaving your opponent with no legal move.
- Tap one of your pieces, then tap the square you want to move it to.
- Jump over an opponent’s piece to capture it and remove it from the board.
- Reach the far side of the board to crown your piece as a king.
- Stuck? Use a hint to get a suggested move.
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Choose your checkers level
There are three levels here. Easy is forgiving and a good place to learn the rules and practise your captures. Medium plays more carefully and will punish pieces you leave unprotected. Hard is a real test of strategy. If you are new to the game, win a few games on Easy before you move up.
Game controls
- Hint. Suggests a move when you are not sure what to play.
- New game. Starts a fresh game.
- Timer. Shows how long the current game has lasted.
- Versions. Switch between the different rule sets.
Checkers rules explained
Different versions change the board size and a few details, but the core rules stay the same:
- The board. Classic checkers, also called English draughts, uses an 8×8 board with 12 pieces per player. Only the dark squares are used.
- Moving. Ordinary pieces, called men, move one square diagonally forward onto an empty square.
- Capturing. If an opponent’s piece sits diagonally next to yours and the square behind it is empty, you can jump over it and capture it. If you land where another jump is possible, keep jumping in the same turn.
- Forced captures. In most versions, if a capture is available you must take it.
- Kings. A man that reaches the far row is crowned a king. Kings can move and capture diagonally backwards as well as forwards.
- Winning. You win when your opponent has no pieces left or cannot make a legal move. If neither side can make progress, the game is a draw.
Checkers strategy tips for beginners
- Control the centre. Pieces in the middle of the board have more moves and can support each other. Pieces on the edge can only move one way.
- Keep your back row filled. While your back row is guarded, your opponent cannot crown a king. Move those pieces last.
- Move in pairs. A piece with a friend directly behind it cannot be jumped. Advance pieces together rather than sending one forward alone.
- Look before you move. Before every move, check whether it leaves a piece open to a jump, including a double jump.
- Use forced captures. Because captures are usually compulsory, you can offer one piece to pull an enemy piece out of position and set up a bigger jump of your own.
- Trade when you are ahead. If you have more pieces, swapping one for one makes your lead count for more. If you are behind, avoid even trades.
- Get a king early. A king can move in both directions and is worth far more than a man in the endgame.
A short history of checkers
Board games like this have been played for centuries. Many historians trace them back to alquerque, an older game played on a grid of lines. A version played on a chessboard appeared in Europe around the 12th century, and over time it grew into the many forms of draughts played around the world today. In 2007 researchers proved that the classic game ends in a draw when both sides play perfectly, yet it is still a game people enjoy at every level.
Checkers or draughts?
They are the same game. In the United States it is called checkers. In the UK and much of the Commonwealth, including South Africa, it is often called draughts. Other versions, such as international draughts, use a 10×10 board and let men capture backwards.
More board games to try
If you enjoy checkers, try Morabaraba, a traditional Southern African strategy game, or Tsoro. For a logic puzzle you can play on your own, try Sudoku or Kakuro.
Checkers FAQ
Is this checkers game free? Yes. It is free to play in your browser, with no download or sign-up.
Do I need an account? No. Open the page and start playing.
Who moves first in checkers? In the classic game, the player with the dark pieces moves first.
Do you have to jump in checkers? In most versions, yes. If a capture is available, you must take it.
Can a king be captured? Yes. A king can be jumped and captured just like any other piece.
Can a game end in a draw? Yes. If neither player can win, the game is a draw.
Can I play checkers on my phone? Yes. The game runs in your phone’s browser.