English checkers rules on Arcajoy

Learn the checkers rules used on Arcajoy: an 8×8 board, forward captures for ordinary pieces, mandatory jumps and short-range kings.

Ordinary pieces and kings

Each player begins with 12 pieces on the dark squares of an 8×8 board. Ordinary pieces move one diagonal square forwards and capture forwards by jumping over an adjacent opponent into an empty square. A king can move one diagonal square forwards or backwards. It still captures by jumping an adjacent piece; it does not slide across the board.

Captures are compulsory

If a capture is available, you must choose a capture instead of an ordinary move. After a jump, the same piece must continue if another capture is available. For example, a piece with two successive forward jumps completes both during that turn. If an ordinary piece reaches the final row and becomes a king, promotion ends the turn.

How the game ends

You win when the opponent has no pieces left or no legal move. These rules match the English-style version implemented here; do not apply Russian backward captures for ordinary pieces or the flying kings of other variants. Practise against the computer to learn the movement, then try a quick match or invite a friend through a private room.

Check a move before selecting it

1. Identify whether the piece is a man or a king. Men move forward; kings can use diagonals in both directions.
2. Look for a capture by any of your pieces. If one exists, an ordinary move with another piece is not an available alternative.
3. For a jump, check the adjacent enemy piece and the empty landing square immediately beyond. An opponent on the diagonal alone does not make a capture possible.
4. After the first jump, check for another capture by the same piece. You cannot end a required chain just because you have already captured once.
5. A man reaching the last row is crowned and its turn ends. Its new king movement is used on later turns.

Example: the landing square is occupied

An enemy piece stands next to your man along a permitted forward diagonal. If the square beyond is occupied, you cannot jump it. Check other captures elsewhere; a normal move becomes legal only when there is no mandatory capture. This distinction explains why two neighbouring opposing pieces do not always create an immediate attack.

After considering your move, inspect the board from the opponent's side. Have you left one of your pieces adjacent to theirs with a free landing square beyond? One move can approach promotion while also exposing the piece to capture. Check that short sequence before relying on a distant attacking plan.

English rules and familiar expectations

From knowing rules to choosing moves

Start against the computer with one objective: find every immediate capture for both players before each move. Count not just the first loss but the reply. An exchange may be reasonable when you understand the result; an unexpected forced capture usually means the previous inspection missed something.

Do not treat kings as separate from the rest of your defensive plan. A short king gains backward movement but still depends on adjacent squares and landing space. Before a friendly match, agree that you are using this particular variant. Otherwise disagreements about backward captures or move distance can arise even when the game is behaving correctly.

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• Checkers