Checkers

If this game board is too big for your screen, you can find a smaller version here.

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Who moves first?

The red pieces always move first in Checkers.

Which side do I play?

If you want to play the red pieces, start by moving a red piece. If you want to play the white pieces, click anywhere on the upper half of the board (the computer will move a red piece).

How do I move a piece?

Drag a piece with the mouse. When you let up the mouse button, the computer assumes that your turn is over.

It won’t let me make multiple jumps!

Yes, it will. When you jump multiple pieces, you need to drag your piece over the first piece you want to jump, and into the empty square beyond it, and then continue dragging over the second piece you want to jump, and into the empty square beyond that. Do not release the mouse button until you are finished making all your jumps.

How do I play?

Checkers is played on the dark squares only. A piece may move one square at a time, diagonally. If one of your pieces is next to one of your opponent’s pieces and the square beyond it is free, you are required to jump over the opponent’s piece. The opponent’s piece is then removed from the board. It is possible to jump many times in a row with the same piece, capturing several of your opponent’s pieces.

In the beginning, pieces can only move and jump forward. However, if a piece reaches the far end of the board (in the case of the person playing red, the top), then it becomes a king. (In checkers, a king is usually signified by stacking two checkers one on top of the other. In this program, the king has a star on it.) A king is allowed to move and jump diagonally backwards and forwards. Kings can be captured like any other piece.

How do I win?

You win by capturing all of your opponent’s pieces, or by blocking them so that they cannot move.

What version of checkers is this?

This is straight, American checkers. No long jumps.

How come it forces me to make a jump?

It’s one of the rules of checkers. Checkers strategy is built around the idea that you force your opponent to jump in order to get them into a bad position.

How come it forces me to make a move?

That’s another one of the rules of checkers. If you touch a piece (in this case, if you click on it with the mouse), then you have to move it. So, if you’re not going to move it, don’t click on it. You have been warned.

Does the computer always win?

Nope. It plays a terrible endgame. It’s actually only about average.

That means that if you copy this game and put it on your web site, even if you give me credit, you are breaking the law. The games are available under license.