Master the rules, controls, and strategy of classic checkers in one place.
Checkers Master uses simple drag-and-drop controls that work on any device.
Click or tap any of your pieces to select it. Valid destination squares will light up on the board so you can see your options instantly.
Drag your selected piece to a highlighted square and release. The move is confirmed immediately and it becomes your opponent's turn.
When a capture is available, you must take it. The game enforces this rule automatically — capture squares are highlighted with a different colour.
Reach the opponent's back row and your piece is promoted to a King, marked with a crown. Kings move diagonally in all four directions.
Standard English draughts rules — straightforward, fair, and well-tested across centuries of play.
The game is played on an 8×8 board. Each player starts with 12 pieces placed on the dark squares of the first three rows closest to them. Dark pieces move first in most implementations.
Only the dark squares are used throughout the entire game — pieces never occupy or cross light squares.
A King can move one square diagonally in any of the four diagonal directions — forward or backward. This extra freedom makes a King far more powerful than a regular piece.
Kings must also follow the mandatory capture rule. If a King can capture, it must — even if you would prefer to move it elsewhere.
Apply these principles from your very first game and you will win far more often.
Pieces in the centre of the board control more squares and have more capture options. Push towards the middle in the opening and maintain that pressure throughout.
Leaving at least one piece on your back row prevents easy king promotions for your opponent. Only advance back-row pieces when you have a clear tactical reason.
Do not capture every time you can. Sometimes sacrificing a piece to set up a double or triple capture two moves later is far more profitable.
Push one or two pieces aggressively towards the opponent's back row to earn Kings quickly. A single early King can dominate several regular pieces.
Before every move, ask yourself what your opponent's best response will be. If their response hurts you, look for a different move.
Keep pieces in triangular clusters so they protect each other. Isolated pieces are easy targets; grouped pieces force your opponent into difficult decisions.