Play checkers online against a friend or computer. Explore an 8×8 board with mandatory captures, short-range kings and quick or private matches.

How to play

Each side starts with 12 pieces. Ordinary pieces move and capture diagonally forwards. Kings move one square diagonally in either direction and capture by jumping over a neighbouring opponent. Captures are mandatory; continue a capture chain when possible. Reaching the last row crowns a piece and ends that turn. Win by taking or blocking all opposing pieces.

A useful starting tip

Check for forced captures before planning a quiet move. These are English-style rules; ordinary pieces cannot capture backwards.

English checkers with specific conditions

This game centres on short moves, compulsory captures and promotion to kings. The familiar 8×8 board uses English rules: men capture forward only and kings do not travel the whole diagonal in one move. Those details shape defence, exchanges and the path to the last row. Check the variant before relying on habits from another version.

Play against the computer, find an opponent through quick matchmaking or invite a friend into a private room. For a first attempt, explore a few basic captures and king moves before planning a long combination. The mode changes your opponent, not the compulsory rules.

Read both sides before moving

Inspect all your pieces because the available capture may belong to a different one from your first selection. A jump needs an empty landing square beyond the opponent. Then examine the opportunities your move gives the other side. Follow a short exchange, including compulsory continuation, rather than counting only the pieces you can take immediately.

The capture you leave behind

After every jump, look at the landing square before you celebrate the piece you took. A forced continuation can carry a man into danger, and a quiet move may hand the opponent a compulsory capture. Reading one reply ahead is enough to catch many early mistakes.