Introduction
Checkers, also known as Draughts in some parts of the world, is a classic two-player strategy board game that has been enjoyed for centuries. The game is played on a checkered board, typically consisting of 64 squares (8×8 grid) alternating between light and dark colors. Each player starts with 12 pieces, usually distinguished by color , placed on the dark squares of the board. The objective of Checkers is to capture all of your opponent’s pieces or block them so they cannot make any legal moves.
How to play
Movement
- Pieces move diagonally forward (toward the opponent’s side) one square at a time, but only onto an unoccupied dark square.
- Regular pieces (called “men”) can only move forward, not backward.
Capturing
- If an opponent’s piece is on an adjacent diagonal square and the square beyond it is empty, you can “jump” over the opponent’s piece to capture it.
- The captured piece is removed from the board.
- If another capture is possible immediately after the first jump (a “double jump” or “multiple jump”), you must continue jumping and capturing as long as there are legal jumps available. This is mandatory in most rule sets.
King pieces
- When a piece reaches the opponent’s back row (the “king row”), it is crowned as a “king.”
- Kings can move and jump both forward and backward diagonally, making them more powerful than regular pieces.
Winning the Game
The game ends when one player:
- Captures all of the opponent’s pieces, or
- Blocks the opponent’s remaining pieces so they have no legal moves left.
- A draw can occur if neither can make progress (e.g., repeating the same moves indefinitely).
