Checkers
Jump diagonally to capture; reach the last row to become a king
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About this tool
An 8x8 game played only on the dark squares. Men step one square diagonally forward and capture by jumping an adjacent enemy. Reach the far row and a man becomes a king, free to move backwards too. Capture every enemy piece, or leave your opponent with no move, and you win. Illegal moves are rejected by the server.
How to use
- The board appears right away. On your own you can move both sides.
- Tap one of your pieces and the squares it can reach are marked with dots.
- If the square just beyond an enemy piece is empty, you can jump it and capture.
- If the same piece can capture again after a jump, the turn does not pass โ you keep jumping.
- Press "Play together" for a room, or "Play the computer" to practise alone.
Frequently asked questions
- The turn did not pass after my move.
- You are in a multi-jump. When the piece that just captured can capture again, it must keep going. You cannot pick a different piece until the chain ends.
- Do I have to capture when I can?
- No. Formal rules make captures compulsory, but that is not enforced here โ being blocked from a move with no explanation is more frustrating than it is worth.
- How far does a king move?
- One square at a time, but in all four diagonal directions, which makes it much stronger than a man. The flying-king rule of international draughts is not used.
- Can I keep jumping on the move that crowns me?
- No โ becoming a king ends the turn. Letting a fresh king carry on backwards would sweep the board in a single turn, so most rulebooks stop it there.