Checkers
Play Checkers online free against the computer or a friend on the same screen. Move your pieces diagonally, jump over your opponent to capture, and crown a piece a King when it reaches the far side. Captures are mandatory and jumps can chain, so a single move can clear several pieces. Pick from three computer difficulty levels.
- Free, with no ads in the way
- No sign-up, no app
- Plays instantly in your browser
- Scores stay on your device
- Works offline after first load
Your turn
Click one of your pieces to see where it can move, then click a highlighted square. When a capture is available you must take it.
How to use it
- 1
Choose your game
Play the computer at Easy, Medium or Hard, or switch to two players and take turns on one screen.
- 2
Move and capture
Tap a piece to see where it can go, then tap a highlighted square. When a capture is available you must take it, and a jump can continue into a chain.
- 3
Crown your Kings
Reach the far row to turn a piece into a King, which moves and captures in both directions. Take all your opponent’s pieces, or leave them with no move, to win.
When it comes in handy
A game with a friend
Two-player on one screen needs no setup and no second device, so it is ready whenever someone fancies a match.
Practising the forced jump
Because captures are mandatory, learning to set up a move that forces a bad jump is the heart of the strategy.
A step up in difficulty
Start on Easy and move to Hard as you improve; the computer looks several moves ahead at the top level.
Free, private & 100% in your browser
The game runs right here in your browser. There is no sign-up and no limit on how many rounds you play, your scores stay on your own device, and once the page has loaded it keeps working even with no connection.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the rules of Checkers?
- Each player moves their pieces one square diagonally forward onto a dark square. You capture by jumping over an opponent’s piece into the empty square beyond it, and captures are compulsory. A piece that reaches the opposite back row becomes a King and may then move and capture both forward and backward. You win by capturing all the opponent’s pieces or leaving them unable to move.
- Do I have to take a capture if one is available?
- Yes. Forced-capture rules apply, so when any of your pieces can jump, you must make a capturing move rather than a quiet one. If a jump lands you next to another capture, that chain continues in the same turn, which is how several pieces can be taken at once.
- How hard is the computer?
- There are three levels. Easy looks only a move or two ahead and makes a beatable game for newcomers. Hard searches several moves deep, takes captures it can win from, and defends its pieces, so it is a real test. Drop the level down while you are learning and raise it as you start winning.
- Is this free, and do I need an account?
- It is completely free and there is no account or sign-up. You just open the page and play. There is no paid tier and no limit on how many games you start.
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