Checkers

About Checkers

Checkers — also known as draughts, or dames, as the developer's own title puts it — is the classic board game, here as a free app from a developer who set out to make an example of a good checkers game. It is listed in the 2 Player category, so the natural way to play is two people taking turns on the same device.

The developer's rules summary is short: to win, move your pieces towards your opponent's side of the board, and move faster by jumping your opponent's pieces and removing them from the board. Everything else on this page builds on those two ideas.

How to play

Take turns with your opponent, moving your pieces towards their side of the board. When one of your pieces jumps an opponent's piece, the jumped piece is removed from the board — and the developer points out that jumping is also how you move faster. The developer does not list specific controls; the game is tagged for mobile as well as desktop browsers.

Controls

• Controls are not listed by the developer — you move your pieces on the board
• Tagged for mobile as well as desktop
• 2 players taking turns (listed in the 2 Player category)

Tips to win

• Before every move, check whether any of your pieces can jump — captures thin out your opponent and move you forward.
• Avoid leaving a piece where your opponent can jump it on their next turn.
• When you are ahead on pieces, even trades make your lead count for more.

Checkers strategy guide

Two players, one board. The developer lists Checkers in the 2 Player category, so this is a game for two people taking turns. The title, CHECKERS - Dames, nods to the French name for the game; in other places it is called draughts. The developer describes it as their example of a good checkers game, published as a free board game.

The goal, in the developer's words. The instructions say that to win you have to move your pieces towards your opponent's side of the board, and that you can move faster by jumping your opponent's pieces and removing them from the board. That gives you two jobs every turn: make progress towards the far side, and take pieces when you get the chance.

Look for jumps first. A normal move changes very little. A jump does two things at once: it removes one of your opponent's pieces and moves your own piece forward. Start every turn by checking each of your pieces for a possible jump before you think about anything else, and check what your opponent could jump too.

Do not hand over free pieces. The same rule works against you. Any piece sitting where your opponent can jump it is a piece you are likely to lose. Before you finish a move, look at the square you are moving to and ask whether it can be jumped next turn. Pieces that advance together are much harder to pick off than a single piece racing ahead on its own.

Trade when you are ahead. If you are a piece or two up, swapping one of yours for one of theirs makes your lead count for more, because there are fewer pieces left for them to fight back with. If you are behind, do the opposite and avoid even exchanges, keeping as many pieces on the board as you can.

Think before you move. Checkers rewards patience. A move that looks safe on its own can open a jump two turns later, so take a moment to picture your opponent's reply before you commit.

Checkers FAQ