Checkers
Jump the computer's pieces and crown your kings.
About Checkers
Checkers, also called draughts, is a classic game of diagonal moves and daring jumps. Capture the computer's pieces, crown your kings and outmanoeuvre it — then climb the leaderboard with your quickest wins.
How to play
You play red and move first. Pieces move one square diagonally forward on the dark squares. Jump over an opposing piece to capture it — captures are compulsory, and you keep jumping while you can. Reach the far row to crown a king, which moves both ways. Take or block all of the computer's pieces to win. Faster wins score higher.
Tips and strategies
- Keep your back row filled as long as you can: it stops the computer from crowning.
- Pieces in the centre have more options than those on the edges.
- Because captures are compulsory, you can offer a piece to lure the computer into a double jump for you.
Checkers strategy guide
Keep your back row. While your men stay on your home row, the computer can't crown; give it up only when you must.
Use forced captures. Because jumps are compulsory, you can offer one piece to drag an enemy piece into a spot where you jump two in return.
Trade when ahead. With more pieces, even exchanges bring you closer to a won ending — and a king in open space is far stronger than a man.
Frequently asked questions
Which rules are used?
English draughts on an 8×8 board. Men move diagonally forward, captures are compulsory and continue as multi-jumps, and a man reaching the far row becomes a king, which ends the move. Kings move both ways.
When is a game drawn or lost?
A side with no legal move loses. The game is drawn after 40 moves each without a capture or a man moving.
How are wins ranked?
Only wins count, and quicker wins rank higher: your score is 100 minus the number of moves you made. The computer searches 2, 4 or 6 moves ahead on Easy, Medium and Hard.
Is Checkers free to play?
Yes. Every game on Puzzimo is completely free and runs in your browser on desktop, tablet and phone — no download or installation.
Do I need an account?
No. You can play instantly as a guest and still appear on the leaderboards. Sign in with Google, Discord or LINE to keep your scores on every device.
How does the daily Checkers challenge work?
Every day at 00:00 UTC everyone gets the same new puzzle. Only your first finish of the day counts on the leaderboard.
How are leaderboard results verified?
Our servers replay every move of your game and measure the time themselves, so leaderboard results can't be faked.