How to play checkers
- Pick the computer, a level and who starts, or A friend to share the screen. You play green, from the bottom of the board.
- Click a piece, then one of the marked squares. Pieces move one square diagonally forward. To capture, jump over an opponent's piece to the empty square behind it.
- Jumps are compulsory, and a piece that can keep jumping must. A piece reaching the far row becomes a king and can move backward too. Take every piece or leave your opponent with no moves to win.
Tips for winning more games
- Keep your back row. While your back row is full, your opponent can’t crown a king. Many players keep two back pieces in place for most of the game.
- Control the center. Pieces in the middle of the board have more moves and support each other. Pieces on the edges are safe but do little.
- Trade when you’re ahead. Swapping one piece for one gets better for you the more pieces you’re up. When behind, avoid trades.
- Use forced jumps. Because captures are compulsory, you can offer a piece to pull an opponent’s piece out of position, then jump two of theirs back.
Checkers has been played in its modern form for centuries. In 2007 a computer program called Chinook proved that perfect play from both sides always ends in a draw.