Checkers vs AI
Play Checkers (Draughts) free in your browser. No download and no sign-up: full forced-capture rules, multi-jumps and kings against four AI levels, a friend on one screen, or an online room you share by link.
Checkers — known as Draughts across much of the world — is a two-player game on an 8x8 board where each side starts with twelve men on the dark squares. You move diagonally and capture by jumping over an enemy piece into the empty square beyond. Reach the far row and your man is crowned a king. It looks simple, but capturing is compulsory and a single well-set trap can win several pieces in one sweeping multi-jump.
Why Play Checkers Here
Everything runs right in your browser. There is no app to install and no account to create — open the page, the men are placed, and you close the tab when you are done. It plays the same on a phone, a tablet or a desktop.
You can play solo against the computer at four strengths — from a gentle Easy up to a sharp Master engine that searches many jumps ahead — pass-and-play with a friend on one screen, or open an online room and invite someone with a single link. Legal moves are shown as dots, forced captures are enforced for you, pieces slide with a clean animation, and an undo button, a hint arrow and full replay help you learn.
How to Play Checkers Online
Pick a mode: play against the AI at easy, medium, hard or Master, or choose same-device two-player. Black moves first, and both sides use only the dark squares.
Tap one of your pieces and the squares it can move to are marked. Men step diagonally forward to an empty square; to capture, you jump over a touching enemy piece into the empty square just beyond it. When a man reaches the opponent's back row it becomes a king, marked with a crown, and can then move and capture in any diagonal direction.
Forced Captures and Multi-Jumps
Capturing is mandatory: if a jump is available, you must take it, and the board only offers you capturing moves on that turn. After a jump, if the same piece can jump again it must continue, chaining into a multi-jump that can clear a whole diagonal in one move.
There is one exception worth knowing: if a man reaches the king row in the middle of a jump, it is crowned and the move ends there. The game is won by capturing or blocking all of the opponent's pieces so they have no legal move; if neither side can make progress, it is a draw.
Strategy for Beginners
Control the center and advance your men in connected groups so they defend each other — a lone piece is easy to trap. Try to keep your back row intact for as long as you can, because it stops the opponent from crowning kings.
Always look one move further: before you jump, check what your opponent can jump in reply, since a free-looking capture is often bait for a bigger multi-jump. Racing a man to the king row is powerful, but trading down while you are ahead in material is usually the cleanest path to a win.
Tips to Improve Faster
- Keep your pieces connected so they protect each other from jumps.
- Hold your back row to deny your opponent easy kings.
- Before capturing, check the reply — a free piece is often a trap.
- Push for a king when safe; kings move and capture both ways.
- Use the hint to compare your idea with the engine, then try Hard and Master.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Checkers the same as Draughts?
Yes. This is 8x8 checkers, also called English or American draughts, with compulsory captures and kings that move one square diagonally.
Are captures mandatory?
Yes. If a jump is available you must take it, and if the same piece can keep jumping it must complete the multi-jump.
Can I play Checkers against the computer?
Yes. Choose Solo vs AI and pick easy, medium, hard or Master. The Master engine looks many moves ahead and punishes loose pieces.
How do I win?
Capture all of your opponent's pieces, or block them so they have no legal move. If neither side can make progress the game is a draw.
Do I need to create an account?
No. Everything runs in your browser and your session record is stored locally, so you can start playing immediately.
