Play Checkers Game Online for Free

How to Play Checkers Online

Once the game loads, you come to a screen with three ways to play:

1. VS Computer
2. Play with Friends
3. Play Online

Playing against the computer is useful for practice if you are just starting out, as it includes hints and undo. Before starting, you can select a difficulty level and check the rules for your chosen mode.

1Play against the Computer

Choose VS Computer, select a difficulty level and begin playing. You can choose Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced or Expert.

If you are a beginner, start with Beginner so you can learn how the pieces move and how captures work. Use hints when you are unsure about a move, or undo a turn to try a different approach. You can increase the difficulty when you feel more confident.

2Play Online with Other Players

This is how you play with other players who are available online. Once you tap Play Online, the game looks for an available opponent for you to compete with. You may need to wait, depending on how many players are looking for a match.

Winning qualifying public matches increases your XP, which helps increase your level. The early levels require less XP. However, advancing further becomes more difficult as each new level requires more XP than the previous one.

During an online match, watch your move countdown and match clock. Make your move before the time runs out so your opponent is not left waiting.

3Play with Your Friends

Playing with friends has two options:

1. Play on the same device.
2. Create a private room and share the code with a friend so they can join from another device.

If you are together, choose Same Device and take turns on one screen. If you are using separate devices, create a Game Room. It has a six-character code that you can share with your friend. You can also copy the available invitation link so they can join.

You can add a friend to your friends list, keep track of their profile and send a challenge when they are available. You can play with your friends in guest mode too; an account is not required.

How to Play a Checkers Game Offline

The game can be played offline. Make sure to open the game site while you are connected to the internet and let it finish loading so your browser can save the game files.

You can then play against the computer offline. Choose VS Computer, select your difficulty level and begin playing. Playing with a friend on the same device offline is also possible.

Online opponents and friends using separate devices still require an internet connection. If you clear the browser’s saved site data, you will need to load the game online again before playing offline.

What Are the Rules of American Checkers?

Classic American Checkers has the following rules:

1. Board and pieces: Each player gets 12 pieces on an 8×8 board, placed on the dark squares.
2. Moving: In our game, the brown side goes first. A normal piece moves one square diagonally forward into an empty square.
3. Capturing: To capture an opponent’s piece, jump over it and land on the empty square immediately beyond it.
4. Mandatory captures: If a capture is available, you must take one. If the same piece can capture again after landing, continue jumping with that piece.
5. Becoming a king: If your piece reaches the opponent’s back row, it becomes a king. A king can move and capture diagonally forward and backward. A normal king move covers one square, and becoming a king ends that turn.
6. Winning: You win by capturing all your opponent’s pieces or leaving them with no legal moves.

These rules apply to American Checkers. Other modes can have different movement, capture and king rules, so check the selected mode before starting.

What Are Some Tips to Play the Checkers Game?

1Look Beyond the First Jump

Carefully analyze what the opponent’s reply could be if you jump and capture their piece. Where you have a choice, avoid scenarios where you capture one piece and the opponent can double capture, so you lose one overall.

2Keep Your Pieces Connected

Try not to move pieces forward alone. Instead, keep them supported so that if the opponent captures one of your pieces, you may be able to capture back.

3Protect Your Back Row

Your back row is important, so be careful here. Try to protect your back-row pieces and do not move them forward too early. If an opponent’s piece reaches that row, it becomes a king and can move and capture diagonally forward and backward.

This does not mean never moving your back-row pieces; instead, use them when needed, such as for defence.

4Use Sacrifices Carefully

This means you intentionally give the opponent a chance to capture one piece, and in return, you capture two with a double jump. So you end up with a gain of one piece.

However, there is also a possibility that the opponent can double jump afterward too. Therefore, you must have a proper plan.

Saving Your Progress

Guest mode lets you start playing without creating an account. However, your access to guest progress depends on your browser’s saved data. If you clear that data or lose access to your device, you may lose access to that progress.

Therefore, creating an account is recommended if you want to keep your profile and online progress across devices.