Can ordinary pieces capture backwards?

No. In this version men move and capture only diagonally forward. Kings can move and capture in both directions.

Can a game end in a draw?

Yes. If a long stretch of moves passes with no capture and no progress, the game is declared a draw.

Which difficulty should I start with?

Start on Easy to learn forced captures, then move to Medium and Hard once you can spot two-for-one shots.

How to Win at Checkers: Strategy for Beginners

Checkers looks simple, but the forced capture rule turns every move into a small puzzle. Our version uses classic rules: men move and capture diagonally forward, captures are mandatory, multi-jumps continue, and kings move both ways. Whether you face the computer on Easy, Medium or Hard or a friend, these principles will win you more games.

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Take the centre

Pieces in the middle of the board control more squares and have more ways to move than pieces on the edge. Early in the game, advance toward the centre and keep your pieces connected in groups, so each one protects the others from jumps. A piece standing alone in front of your army is an easy target, and edge pieces can only move in one direction.

Guard your back row

Your rival crowns a king by reaching your back row, so leave some back row pieces at home for as long as you can. Two well-placed back pieces can stop most crowning attempts on their own. Move them only when the board has thinned out and you need every piece in the fight.

Use forced captures as traps

Because capturing is mandatory, you can force your opponent's move. Offer one piece so that taking it pulls a rival piece into a spot where you can jump two or more in return. Before every move, also check what your opponent can force on you, since the computer on higher levels looks for exactly these shots. The Undo button is a great way to study what went wrong.

Trade when you are ahead

When you have more pieces, even swaps work in your favour, because each trade makes your advantage bigger in proportion. If you are behind, avoid trades and keep pieces packed together to make your rival's attack harder. Try to keep a reserve of spare moves, so you are never forced to step into a capture.

Win the endgame with kings

Kings can move and capture backwards, which makes them far stronger than men. Once you have a king, use it to attack rival men from behind while your other pieces push forward. With two kings against one, drive the single king toward a corner and trap it. The game ends when your rival has no pieces or no legal moves left.

Questions

Can ordinary pieces capture backwards?: No. In this version men move and capture only diagonally forward. Kings can move and capture in both directions.
Can a game end in a draw?: Yes. If a long stretch of moves passes with no capture and no progress, the game is declared a draw.
Which difficulty should I start with?: Start on Easy to learn forced captures, then move to Medium and Hard once you can spot two-for-one shots.

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