Checkers
Play checkers free online \u2014 American draughts with forced captures, multi-jumps, kings and an AI opponent. Two-player mode, unlimited undo, hints and saved stats. No download, no signup.
Red to move
R 0 \u00b7 B 0 \u00b7 D 0
Quick Answer
This is American checkers (English draughts) with the real rules enforced: captures are mandatory, multi-jump chains must be completed in one turn, men move forward only until they reach the far row and are crowned kings that move both ways, and a promotion mid-jump ends the turn. Play red against a minimax computer opponent (easy or hard) or switch to two-player hotseat. Every game autosaves, undo is unlimited, and the hint button shows the engine’s best move — all running entirely in your browser with no download or account.
How It Works
Choose vs Computer (easy or hard) or two-player mode
Tap a piece to see its legal moves — jumps are forced when available
Capture or block all enemy pieces to win; Undo and Hint are always available
Key Facts
- Correct American draughts rules: forced captures and mandatory multi-jump chains
- Minimax AI with alpha-beta pruning — easy and hard difficulties
- Two-player hotseat mode for over-the-board play on one screen
- Kings crowned on the far row; mid-chain promotion ends the turn (English rule)
- Unlimited undo with full immutable game history
- Hint button powered by the same engine that drives the computer opponent
- Standard numeric move notation (11-15, 22x15) with a running move list
- Games autosave to your browser — refresh-safe, win/loss/draw stats included
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have to jump in checkers?
Yes — in American checkers captures are mandatory. If any of your pieces can jump an opponent piece, you must capture, and ordinary moves are illegal until no capture exists. If a chain of jumps is available, you must take the entire chain with the same piece in a single turn. This engine enforces all of it automatically, so you can never make an illegal move.
How do kings work in checkers?
A man is crowned a king when it reaches the opponent’s back row. Kings move and capture diagonally both forward and backward, making them far more powerful than men. One subtlety the engine enforces: if a man reaches the back row in the middle of a jump chain, the move ends immediately and the piece is crowned — it cannot continue jumping as a king in the same turn (English draughts rule).
How hard is the computer opponent?
The hard opponent searches five plies deep with alpha-beta pruning over a material-plus-position evaluation — it sees and punishes hung pieces, converts forced wins, and is a solid club-level challenge for casual players. Easy mode picks a random legal move and is perfect for kids or learning the rules. The Hint button always uses the strong engine regardless of difficulty.
Who moves first in checkers?
Red moves first in American checkers (the same rule is usually stated as “darker moves first” depending on the set — here red plays the role of the darker side). In this game you are red against the computer, so you always open.
How do you win at checkers?
You win when your opponent has no legal moves — usually because all their pieces are captured, but a full block counts too. Strategy basics: control the center, keep your back-row men home early to deny kings, trade when ahead in material, and remember that kings dominate endgames — the first king usually decides the game. A 40-move rule (no capture or man advance) ends the game as a draw.
Does the game save if I close the tab?
Yes — the full game state, move list, and your win/loss/draw tally are stored in your browser’s localStorage and reload automatically when you come back. Nothing is uploaded anywhere; clearing your browser data resets the stats.