Checkers

Our Verdict

A cleaner strategic test than it looks. The mandatory capture rule and king promotion create situations where sacrificing a piece to force a favorable chain capture is often the winning move. Good for players who want a chess-adjacent game with a much shorter learning curve.

How to Play Checkers

1. 1Each player starts with 12 pieces on the three rows of dark squares closest to them. Black moves first.
2. 2Men (regular pieces) move diagonally forward one square at a time onto an empty dark square.
3. 3To capture an opponent's piece, jump over it diagonally to the empty square on the other side. The captured piece is removed from the board.
4. 4Captures are mandatory. If you have a legal jump available, you must take it. If multiple jumps exist, you may choose which to take — and you must continue jumping with the same piece as long as further captures are available.
5. 5When one of your men reaches the opponent's back row, it is crowned a king. Kings can move and capture diagonally in any direction — forward or backward.
6. 6Win by capturing all of your opponent's pieces, or by leaving them with no legal moves.