Loading...
Frequently Asked Questions About Checkers
Answers to the most common questions about checkers rules, gameplay, and strategy.
Are jumps mandatory in checkers?
Yes. In standard American Checkers, if you can make a capture (jump), you must do so. You cannot choose a non-capturing move when a jump is available. If multiple jumps are possible, you may choose which one to take, but you must take at least one.
How does a piece become a king?
A piece becomes a king when it reaches the farthest row on the opponent's side of the board (the "king row"). In digital versions, the piece receives a crown symbol. In physical play, a second checker is stacked on top. Kings can move both forward and backward diagonally.
Can a king move backwards?
Yes. Kings can move both forward and backward diagonally, one square at a time in American Checkers. This is the key advantage of kings over regular pieces (men), which can only move forward.
Can you jump your own pieces in checkers?
No. You can only jump over (capture) opponent pieces. You cannot jump over your own pieces, and you cannot land on a square occupied by any piece.
What is the difference between Checkers and Draughts?
Checkers and Draughts refer to the same family of games. "Checkers" is the American/North American term, while "Draughts" is used in Britain, Europe, and most of the world. American Checkers (English Draughts) is played on an 8x8 board. International Draughts uses a 10x10 board with 20 pieces per side and allows kings to fly across multiple squares.
Can a piece that just became a king continue jumping?
In standard American Checkers, no. When a piece reaches the king row during a multi-jump sequence, the turn ends immediately. The newly crowned king must wait until the next turn to move or capture. Some variants allow continuation, so check the specific rules being used.
What happens if neither player can win?
The game is declared a draw. This most commonly occurs when both players have a small number of kings and neither can force a capture. In tournament play, a draw can also be agreed upon by mutual consent. Some tournaments use a 40-move rule: if no capture or king promotion occurs in 40 moves, the game is drawn.
How many squares are actually used in checkers?
Only 32 of the 64 squares on the board are used — the dark-colored diagonal squares. Pieces never touch the light squares. This is why checkers boards are numbered 1-32 in official notation.
Is checkers a solved game?
Yes. In 2007, a team led by Jonathan Schaeffer proved that perfect play by both sides results in a draw. The computer program Chinook analyzed 500 billion positions over 18 years to reach this conclusion. However, "solved" doesn't mean the game is boring — humans make mistakes, and the vast majority of positions still require genuine skill to navigate.
What is a "shot" in checkers?
A shot is a tactical combination where you sacrifice one piece to capture two or more in return. You deliberately leave a piece where your opponent must capture it (due to mandatory jumps), positioning your pieces to then execute a double or triple jump on your next turn.
Can you move a piece backwards if it is not a king?
No. In American Checkers, regular pieces (men) can only move forward diagonally. They cannot move backward at all. Only kings have the ability to move and capture in both directions.
Ready to play? Challenge the AI or invite a friend with instant link-to-play.
Play Checkers Now