Play Online Checkers
Choose the rules you want to play
- American Checkers
- Board 8x8
- Short moves only
- Cannot capture backwards
- Capture - choose any
- Brazilian Draughts
- Board 8x8
- Long moves possible
- Can capture backwards
- Must capture max pieces
- International Draughts
- Board 10x10
- Long moves possible
- Can capture backwards
- Must capture max pieces
What is Checkers?
Checkers, also called Draughts, is a group of strategy board games for two players. American Checkers and International Draughts are the two most popular variants of Checkers.
How to play Checkers?
In both variants (American Checkers and International Draughts) basic moves are the same. Ordinary pieces move diagonally forward, only on the dark squares of the game board.
Board size in Checkers
In American Checkers, known also as English Draughts the board consists of 64 squares (8x8 checkerboard). On the other hand International Draughts is played on a 100-squares game board (10x10).
Number of pieces
Board size affects the number of pieces (also called counters or men). In American Checkers each player has 12 pieces (ie. 24 in total). In International Draughts each player has 20 pieces at the start of a game (ie. 40 in total).
Which color starts the game?
In both variants one player has the light pieces (usually white) and the other plays with the dark pieces (for example black, brown or red). But there is a big difference in who starts a game. In American Checkers dark pieces start, while in International Draughts the first move belongs to the player with the light ones.
How to move pieces?
In both games ordinary pieces move diagonally forward, only on the dark squares. But when it comes to capturing opponents' pieces, there are some differences...
How to capture opponent’s pieces?
In both games capturing is obligatory, but in American Checkers you can decide which of the available capturing possibilities to choose from. In International Draughts you always have to jump over the highest number of pieces possible. It is the so-called majority rule.
Moreover, in International Draughts, pieces can capture forwards and backwards, while in American Checkers pieces cannot take backwards. The only exception is a king.
King
When an uncrowned piece reaches the king row it turns into a king. In American Checkers a king moves only one square, but unlike regular pieces, a king can move and capture backwards, too.
In International Draughts a king is a very powerful figure. Why? Because a crowned man becomes the so-called flying king. It means that a king can move any distance along diagonals. The same applies to jumping, when a king doesn't have to stop on the square right after the captured piece.
Would you like to learn more about American Checkers or International Draughts? Check out our Checkers & Draughts guide.
Hey! You may also enjoy our Checkers app
