Play Checkers Online — Free 2 Player Board Game
Introduction
Checkers is the board game almost everyone has played and almost nobody has mastered. Twelve pieces a side move diagonally across an eight by eight board, capturing by jumping, and the goal is simple: take all of your opponent's pieces or block them so they cannot move. The rules take a minute to learn, the strategy takes years to master, and it is the perfect two-player game for one screen. Play it free in your browser against a friend with no download and no account.
About Checkers
Checkers — also called draughts — is one of the oldest board games still played today, with variants found across the world for centuries. It looks simpler than chess, but it is a genuine strategy game: the first player to understand the power of the king and the value of position will beat a player who just jumps at every capture.
The game is played on the dark squares of an eight by eight board. Pieces move one square diagonally forward, and capture by jumping over an adjacent opponent piece to the empty square beyond. A piece that reaches the far side is crowned a king, which can then move diagonally in both directions — kings are the heart of the endgame.
This version is based on an open-source draughts game by gartz, released under the MIT licence. It runs entirely in your browser and supports two players sharing one screen. No download, no sign-up and no waiting for an opponent — just deal the board and play.
How to Play Checkers
Set up the board.
Each player places twelve pieces on the dark squares of their side of the board. Red moves first, then players alternate turns.
Move diagonally forward.
A piece moves one square diagonally forward onto an empty dark square. Pieces can never move or land on the light squares.
Capture by jumping.
If an opponent's piece is diagonally adjacent and the square beyond is empty, you must jump over it to capture it. Multiple jumps in one turn are allowed.
Crown your kings.
A piece that reaches the opponent's back row becomes a king. Kings move diagonally in both directions, which makes them far more powerful.
Win the game.
You win by capturing all of your opponent's pieces or by leaving them with no legal move. The game ends the moment either condition is met.
Checkers Controls
| Action | Desktop | Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Select a piece | Click a piece | Tap a piece |
| Move a piece | Click an empty destination square | Tap an empty destination square |
| Capture a piece | Click the landing square beyond the opponent piece | Tap the landing square beyond the opponent piece |
| See legal moves | Legal squares are highlighted when a piece is selected | Legal squares are highlighted when a piece is selected |
| See whose turn it is | The turn indicator shows red or black | The turn indicator shows red or black |
| Undo a move | Click the Undo button, if available | Tap the Undo button, if available |
| Restart the game | Click the New Game button | Tap the New Game button |
| Fullscreen | Click the fullscreen button above the board | Tap the fullscreen button above the board |
| Exit fullscreen | Escape key | Tap the fullscreen button again |
Checkers Tips & Strategies
Move toward the crown row
The strongest pieces are kings, and kings come from reaching the far side of the board. Every move that pushes a man toward the crown row is a move toward a more powerful army.
Do not take every capture
Capturing is sometimes forced, but when you have a choice, think twice. A capture that moves your piece into a vulnerable square is often worse than passing up a piece.
Control the centre
Pieces in the centre of the board have more mobility and more options. A piece trapped on the edge can only move in one direction, while a centre piece can pick its battles.
Build a defensive wall
Keeping your pieces in a connected formation makes it hard for the opponent to jump through them. A single isolated piece is a target; a row of pieces is a wall.
Trade pieces when you are ahead
If you are winning on material, exchanging pieces simplifies the position and makes your advantage easier to convert into a win.
Watch for double jumps
Before you move, check whether your move opens a double jump for your opponent. One careless step can hand them two captures and the game.
What makes Checkers worth playing
- Classic checkers gameplay for two players on one screen
- Runs entirely in your browser with no download or plugin
- Legal moves highlighted for easy play
- Full rules including multiple jumps and king promotion
- Open source under the MIT licence with credit to the developer
Game Info
| Developer | gartz |
|---|---|
| Released | 2014 |
| Genre | Board, Strategy |
| Players | Multiplayer |
| Technology | HTML5 / JavaScript |
| Platforms | Desktop, Tablet, Mobile browser |
| Average session | About 15 minutes |
| Licence | MIT |
| Last updated |
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Checkers — Frequently Asked Questions
Is Checkers free to play?
Yes, completely. The game is open source under the MIT licence and free to play here with no payment, no sign-up and no premium version.
Can two people play on the same computer?
Yes. The game is designed for two players sharing one screen, taking turns to move their own pieces. No accounts or room codes are needed.
How do pieces capture?
A piece captures by jumping diagonally over an adjacent opponent piece onto the empty square beyond. If another capture is available from the landing square, you may continue in the same turn.
How do I crown a king?
When a piece reaches the opponent's back row, it becomes a king. Kings can move and capture diagonally in both directions, forward and backward.
Can I play Checkers on my phone?
Yes. Tap a piece and tap an empty destination square to move. The game works in portrait and landscape on mobile browsers.
How do I win at Checkers?
Capture all of your opponent's pieces or leave them with no legal move. The tips above cover the opening, centre control and king promotion habits that win games.
Licence & Attribution
Checkers, based on draughtsjs by gartz · MIT License
Licence verified .