rules to play checkers

Typically the darker color pieces moves first. Each player takes their turn by moving a piece. Pieces are always moved diagonally and can be moved in the following ways Diagonally in the forward direction towards the opponent to the next dark square. If there is one of the opponents pieces next to a piece and an empty space on the other side, you jump your opponent and remove their piece. You can do multiple jumps if they are lined up in the forward direction.note if you have a jump, you have no choice but to take it.

The board and checkers should be in between you and your opponent. Before you set up the board, you should determine who goes first. You can do this based on who won the last game, a coin toss, or by any other method. The person who will go first will take the black checkers and the other will take the red.Though some people believe that the player with the red checkers should go first, traditionally, the player with the black checkers always goes first.

The board is made up of 64 alternating dark and light squares which appear in 8 rows of 8. There are 32 light squares and 32 dark squares. Each player should have the light square on the right side corner closest to him or her. The checker pieces will only move on the dark squares, so each player should set up his pieces on the 12 dark squares in the first three rows closest to him or her, setting up three rows of 4 checkers.Since the board has 8 rows, 6 of the rows will be taken up by the players checkers, leaving two open rows in the middle of the board.

Checkers can only move diagonally forward, and can only move once during a non capturing move. The checkers will move in the direction of the opponents checkers. Checkers can change which direction theyre going diagonally, but they must still always move forward.

You can jump your opponents checkers or make a capturing move if your checker is located just one diagonal space behind your opponents checker, so that you would still move forward to capture the piece. To capture the piece, just jump over it by moving two diagonal spaces in the same direction, effectively hopping over your opponents checker. Once you capture the checker, you can take it off the board.

If you have the opportunity to jump your opponents checker, then you have to take it. If you have the opportunity to jump your opponents checker in multiple parts of the board, then you can choose which checkers youd like to jump. If youre capturing a checker, you can still only move forward once. But if the new position you land in gives you a direct opportunity to capture another checker, then you can keep going until you cant jump any more of your opponents checkers.

To crown your piece to make it king, simply place one of your own captured pieces on top of it, so its easily distinguishable because of its height. The king can still only move horizontally on the black squares, but he can move forward and backward, so its easier for the king to capture the opponents checkers.

Kings can still only move one diagonal space at a time during a non capture move. However, when a king is capturing checkers, it can move forward and backward on the same turn. Some checkers sets have a crown on the back of the checkers, so you can just flip a piece over once its crowned to designate it as the king instead. There is no limit to how many crowned pieces you can have.

Once you have done this, youve won.A less common way to win is when all of your opponents pieces are blocked so that you opponent cant make any more moves. Another less common way is when all your checker pieces still remaining make it back to the starting line.

Though a beginner may be tempted to keep his pieces at the edges of the board and to try to avoid the opponents checkers as much as possible, you wont lose if youre afraid to seize an opportunity, and your opponents checkers wont get captured on their own.Instead, be bold and try to capture your opponents checkers whenever you can.

If you move a stray checker a few squares forward without moving the rest of your checkers, that piece will be vulnerable to capture. Instead, try moving your checkers together think of them as a row of phalanx. If they move together, it will be harder for your opponent to capture your checkers, and if your opponent does still manage to capture your checker, then youll have a piece waiting to capture his checker as well.

This is the best way to keep your opponent from crowning his pieces and to capture any opposing pieces that approach the back row.