Checkers, also known as draughts, is a classic board game enjoyed by millions around the world. Simple to learn yet strategically deep, checkers offers endless hours of engaging gameplay for people of all ages. Whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to brush up on your skills, this comprehensive guide will teach you exactly How To Play Checkers, from setting up the board to mastering basic moves and understanding winning strategies.
What is Checkers?
Checkers is a two-player board game played on an 8×8 checkered board, the same board used for chess. The objective in checkers is to capture all of your opponent’s pieces or block them from making any moves. It’s a game of strategy and tactics, requiring players to think ahead and anticipate their opponent’s moves. Often compared to chess in its strategic depth but praised for its simpler rules, checkers is a fantastic game for developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Setting up the Board and Pieces
Getting started with checkers is easy. You’ll need a checkerboard and 24 checker pieces, typically 12 of one color (often black or red) and 12 of another color (often white).
The Checkers Board
The checkerboard consists of 64 squares arranged in an 8×8 grid, with alternating dark and light squares. However, checkers is only played on the dark squares. When setting up the board, ensure that a dark square is in the bottom-left corner from each player’s perspective.
The Pieces
Each player starts with 12 pieces. At the beginning of the game, each player places their pieces on the dark squares of the three rows closest to their side of the board. The pieces are placed only on the dark squares, filling the first three rows.
Alt text: Diagram of a checkerboard illustrating the numbering system for squares, with black pieces occupying squares 1 through 12 and white pieces on squares 21 through 32, demonstrating initial piece placement.
Basic Moves
Understanding the moves in checkers is crucial to playing the game effectively. Here’s a breakdown of the fundamental moves:
Moving a Piece
Pieces that are not kings (often called “men”) can only move diagonally forward one square at a time onto an unoccupied dark square. Pieces cannot move backward or sideways.
Capturing (Jumping)
Capturing is a key element of checkers. If an opponent’s piece is diagonally adjacent to your piece, and there is an empty dark square immediately beyond it in the same diagonal direction, you must jump over your opponent’s piece to capture it. The captured piece is then removed from the board.
- Multiple Jumps: If, after a jump, your piece lands in a position where another jump is possible (either with the same piece or another piece if a king), you must continue jumping. Multiple jumps can occur in a single turn, potentially capturing several opponent pieces at once in a straight or zigzag pattern.
- Forced Jumps: In checkers, if a jump is available, you must take it. You cannot choose to move a piece normally if a jump is possible. If there are multiple jump options, you can choose which jump sequence to take.
Becoming a King
When one of your pieces reaches the opposite side of the board (the opponent’s first row, also known as the “king row”), it becomes a “king”. The opponent will “crown” your piece by placing another checker piece of the same color on top of it.
King Moves
Kings are more powerful than regular pieces. A king can move diagonally one square in any direction – forward or backward – to an unoccupied dark square.
- King Captures: Kings can also jump and capture opponent’s pieces in any diagonal direction, forward or backward, following the same rules of capturing as regular pieces. If a king lands on the king row via a capture, it can continue capturing backward if possible in the same turn.
Winning the Game
There are two ways to win a game of checkers:
- Capture all of your opponent’s pieces: If you successfully capture all 12 of your opponent’s pieces, you win the game.
- Block your opponent so they cannot move: If you maneuver your pieces in such a way that your opponent has no legal moves available (all their pieces are blocked from moving to unoccupied squares), you also win.
Draw Games
Sometimes, a game of checkers can end in a draw. This typically occurs when:
- Neither player can force a win: If a situation arises where neither player can realistically capture any more pieces or create a winning position, a draw can be declared.
- Repetitive moves: If the game reaches a point where the same positions and moves are repeated multiple times without progress, a draw can be agreed upon. This is often to prevent excessively long and stagnant games.
A Brief History of Checkers
Checkers boasts a long and fascinating history, with roots tracing back to ancient civilizations. Games resembling checkers have been found dating back to ancient Egypt around 1600 BC, and were even mentioned in the writings of Homer and Plato in ancient Greece. The game evolved over centuries, with a significant transformation occurring around the 12th century AD when it was adapted to the 64-square chessboard. By the 16th century, the rule of mandatory capture was introduced, solidifying the game into a form very similar to the modern checkers we know and love today. This rich history underscores checkers as not just a simple pastime but a game with enduring appeal across cultures and generations.
Get Started Playing!
Now that you know the rules of how to play checkers, you’re ready to begin! Grab a checkerboard, gather a friend, and start practicing. Like any game, the more you play, the better you’ll become at recognizing patterns, planning strategies, and outmaneuvering your opponent. Enjoy the challenge and the fun of this timeless classic!
