Learn · Global
English checkers
8x8 · dark squares, forced jumps, kings, wins, and draws.
Lessons in this path
- 1 Board and dark squares English checkers is played on an 8 by 8 board, but pieces use only the dark diagonal squares.
- 2 Men move diagonally forward A man moves one square diagonally forward, always staying on the dark squares. The dark pieces move down the board; the light pieces move up.
- 3 Captures are mandatory In English checkers, a capture is not optional. If you can jump, the board will make you jump.
- 4 Multi-jump If a capture lands on a square where another capture is available, the same piece must keep jumping.
- 5 Choosing among captures English checkers requires a capture, but when more than one capture is legal you may choose among them.
- 6 Crowning a king A man that reaches the far back row is crowned and becomes a king.
- 7 Crowned mid-jump: the chain stops In English checkers, a capture that lands on the king row has a special ending. The man is crowned at once, and his turn ends — even if another jump…
- 8 Kings move both ways English checkers kings are short kings: one diagonal square at a time, but forward or backward.
- 9 King captures backward A king is not just a backward mover. If a jump is available backward, the king must take it.
- 10 Winning and blocked positions You win English checkers by capturing all opposing pieces or by leaving the opponent with no legal move.
- 11 Draw basics Some checkers games do not produce a winner. Repetition and no-progress positions can become draws.
- 12 Checkers match flow in Boardgammon In an online Boardgammon checkers match, the board only allows legal moves. You also play with a clock, and you can resign, offer a draw, or review…