Game Setup
Checkers is played on an 8×8 board with 12 pieces per player. Only the dark squares are used.
- Place the board so each player has a light square on their right
- Each player starts with 12 pieces on the dark squares of the first three rows
- Red pieces traditionally move first
Basic Rules
Movement
- Regular pieces move diagonally forward one square
- Pieces can only move to empty dark squares
- Take turns moving one piece at a time
Capturing
- Jump over opponent's piece to capture it
- Multiple jumps in one turn are allowed
- Jumping is mandatory when available
- Captured pieces are removed from the board
Kings
When a piece reaches the opposite end of the board, it becomes a king!
King Powers:
- Move diagonally in any direction (forward or backward)
- Capture pieces in any diagonal direction
- Still move one square at a time
Kings are marked with a crown or by stacking two pieces.
Winning the Game
Victory Conditions
- Capture all of your opponent's pieces
- Block your opponent so they cannot move
Draw Conditions
The game is a draw if:
- Both players agree to a draw
- The same position occurs three times
- 40 moves pass with no captures or advancement
Pro Tip: Control the center of the board for better positioning and more capturing opportunities!