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Overview
Checkers icon CH

Checkers

체커

A classic 8×8 duel: capture by jumping, crown kings, and outmaneuver your opponent.

Easy to learn, deceptively deep—one forced capture can flip the whole board.

Players: 1-2P Session length: 5-20 min
StrategyBoard GameClassic

Goal & Core Rules

Capture all opponent pieces or leave them with no legal moves.

  • Players move pieces diagonally forward on the dark squares.
  • Captures are made by jumping over an adjacent opponent piece to an empty square beyond (often mandatory).
  • Multiple jumps may be required if another capture is immediately available.
  • Reaching the farthest rank crowns a piece as a king, allowing it greater movement (rules vary).

Controls

Mouse

  • Click a piece to select
  • Click a target square to move/capture
  • Drag-and-drop (if supported)

Keyboard

  • Arrow keys/Tab: move focus (if supported)
  • Enter/Space: select/confirm (if supported)
  • Esc: cancel selection (if supported)

Touch

  • Tap a piece to select
  • Tap a target square to move/capture
  • Drag (if supported)

Beginner Tips

  • Keep your pieces connected so a capture doesn’t split your position.
  • Trade when ahead—simpler endgames favor the player with more pieces.
  • Watch for forced sequences: an opponent can ‘bait’ you into a bad mandatory capture.

Advanced Tips

  • Control the center to increase mobility and reduce forced lines.
  • Count tempos: who reaches king first often decides the midgame.
  • In king endgames, use opposition and blocking to restrict escapes.

Origins & History

Checkers (also called draughts) is one of the world’s oldest board games and is played on an 8×8 board with diagonal movement and jumping captures.

FAQ

Are captures always mandatory?

Many common rulesets require capturing when available, but some casual variants make it optional.

How do kings move?

It depends on the variant. Kings typically move diagonally with greater freedom than regular pieces.

Can a game end in a draw?

Yes—repetition and blocked positions can lead to draws depending on rules.

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