Practical tutorial
Connect variant differences, formations, tempo, and opening traps to decisions in live play.
Practical tutorial
Choose a step in the inline tutorial below to review the flow.
Learning
Diagonal Moves, Mandatory Jumps, and Kings
Learn how to use the 32 squares, capture when possible, and kinging.
Move diagonally on the dark squares, capture by jumping over opposing pieces, and aim to take every opposing piece or leave the opponent unable to move.
- Article Capture All Opposing Pieces or Leave Them Unable to Move
- Pattern Move One Square Diagonally Forward
- Move sequence Jump Over an Opposing Piece to Capture It
- Move sequence Capture Whenever Possible
- Move sequence Advance to the far side and become king
- Move sequence Win by capturing all or by immobilizing the opponent
Review the selected rules and form a plan around the center, back rank, and tempo.
- Article Read captures ahead and crown a king without breaking your formation
- Article Lock in the variant differences in checkers
- Article Use the center, the edge, and the back rank in different ways
- Article Read the tempo and early traps
Checkers Basics
Choose a step in the inline tutorial below to review the flow.
Movement and captures
Open it only when you need to check something.
Diagonal movement and jumps
Standard human-readable notation
21-17
Count 1–32 starting from the first dark square on the upper-left side.
Man
One square diagonally forward An ordinary piece moves diagonally forward.Jump
Jump over an opponent If the square beyond an adjacent opposing piece is empty, jump over and capture it.Multiple jump
Continue capturing If another capture is available after a jump, continue jumping.King
Move diagonally forward or backward A piece that reaches the far side becomes a king and can move backward too.Mandatory capture
- When a capture is available, you must capture instead of making an ordinary move.
- If another capture is available from the landing square, continue capturing in the same turn.
King
- A piece that reaches the opponent's farthest row becomes a king.
- A king can move diagonally both forward and backward.
Next step
Choose after the tutorialOnce you are comfortable moving pieces, review anything that was unclear or practice your decisions with a short problem.