About Checkers
Checkers, called draughts in much of the world, is one of those games almost everyone learned as a kid, and it holds up remarkably well. Your pieces move diagonally toward the far side of the board, hopping over enemy pieces to capture them, and the aim is to leave your opponent with nothing left to move.
The rules take a minute to learn, but the strategy runs deep. Every jump can set up a counter-jump, and a piece that reaches the far row becomes a king that can move both forward and backward, shifting the balance of the game. It's ideal for short, focused matches and great for younger players learning to think a few moves ahead. Once you start spotting double jumps before your opponent does, you'll want to play just one more game.
How to play Checkers
- Move one piece per turn diagonally forward onto an empty dark square.
- Capture an opponent's piece by jumping diagonally over it into the empty square beyond; several jumps can be chained in one turn.
- Reach the far side of the board to crown a piece as a king, which can then move diagonally backward as well as forward.
- Win by capturing all of your opponent's pieces or leaving them with no legal moves.
Checkers controls
| Input | Action |
|---|---|
| Mouse / Tap a piece | Select the piece you want to move |
| Mouse / Tap a square | Move or jump to that square |
Tips and tricks
- Keep your back row intact as long as you can; it makes it much harder for your opponent to crown kings.
- Advance pieces in connected groups rather than alone, so a lone piece can't be picked off.
- Control the center of the board, where your pieces have the most options.
- Look for trades that set up a double jump; giving up one piece can win you two.
Checkers FAQ
How do you get a king in checkers?
Move one of your pieces all the way to your opponent's back row. It's crowned and can then move diagonally both forward and backward.
Can you jump more than one piece in a turn?
Yes. If another jump is available from the square you land on, you can keep capturing in the same turn.
Are checkers and draughts the same game?
Yes. Draughts is the common British name for the same game played on an 8-by-8 board.
Can I play Checkers for free?
Yes. Checkers is free to play in your browser on The Pizza Edition – no download, install or account needed. Some partner games show a short ad before or between rounds, which keeps them free.
Does Checkers work on Chromebook and mobile?
Checkers runs in any modern browser on Chromebooks, Windows PCs and Macs. It is designed for keyboard and mouse, so it plays best on a laptop or Chromebook rather than a phone.
