How to play Checkers
Checkers is played on an 8x8 board, only on the dark squares. Each player starts with 12 pieces. Red moves first. Pieces move one square diagonally forward onto an empty dark square.
- Capturing: jump diagonally over an opponent's piece into the empty square behind it to remove that piece. You can keep jumping in the same turn if another capture is available.
- Captures are mandatory. If you can capture, you must.
- Kings: a piece that reaches the far row is crowned a king and can move and capture both forward and backward. Crowning ends your turn.
- Winning: capture all your opponent's pieces or leave them with no legal move.
Tips to win
- Keep your back row in place as long as you can. It stops the opponent from getting kings.
- Control the centre of the board.
- Trade pieces when you are ahead.
- Look for forced captures that set up a double jump for you.