Log in

Checkers

Checkers

Jump, capture and crown your kings.

About Checkers

Play classic checkers (also called draughts) for free. Move your pieces diagonally, jump over your opponent's pieces to capture them, and reach the far side of the board to crown a king. Challenge the computer on Easy, Medium or Hard, or play a friend on the same device. Uses the official American rules with forced captures and multi-jumps, which you can switch off.

How to play Checkers

  1. Red moves first. Pieces move one square diagonally forward onto a dark square.
  2. Capture by jumping diagonally over an opponent's piece to the empty square behind it. If you can jump again, you must keep going.
  3. With forced captures on, you must take a capture when one is available.
  4. A piece that reaches the far row becomes a king and can move and capture backwards too. Capture every enemy piece, or leave them with no moves, to win.

Controls

Click / tap a piece
Select it (pieces that can move are highlighted)
Click / tap a green dot
Move there; tap each landing square of a multi-jump
Arrow keys + Enter
Play with the keyboard

Tips and tricks

  • Keep your back row filled as long as you can: it stops your opponent from crowning kings.
  • Move pieces in pairs so each one protects the other from being jumped.
  • Control the center of the board; pieces on the edges have fewer moves.
  • Use forced captures against your opponent: offer one piece to set up a double jump of your own.

Checkers FAQ

Is this checkers game free?

Yes. Checkers is free to play in your browser on desktop, tablet and phone, with no download or sign-up.

Do you have to jump in checkers?

In the official rules, yes: if a capture is available you must take it, and you must finish a multi-jump. You can turn forced captures off in the menu for a casual game.

Can a king move backwards?

Yes. Kings move and capture one square diagonally in any direction. Regular pieces only move forward.

Is checkers the same as draughts?

Yes. Checkers is the American name for English draughts, played on an 8×8 board with 12 pieces each.

How is a draw decided?

If 40 moves go by on each side without a capture or a regular piece moving, the game is a draw.

Board games2 Player gamesstrategyclassicbrainai
Released
October 2026
Made by
PlayFuzz Originals
Platforms
Desktop, mobile, tablet
Players
1–2