Checkers
Move diagonally forward, jump the computer's pieces to capture them, and crown a king on the far row. Capture or block every piece to win.
How to play Checkers
How to play
Tap one of your pieces, then a highlighted square, or drag the piece there. Pieces move one square diagonally forward onto a dark square. Dark moves first; you can choose to play first or second before your first move. To play a friend, choose Two players: dark and light take turns on one device.
Captures
Jump diagonally over an enemy piece onto the empty square behind it to capture it. Captures are compulsory: if you can jump, you must. If the piece can keep jumping, it must carry on in the same move. When several captures are possible you choose which.
Kings
A piece that reaches the far row is crowned and gets a crown mark. Kings move and capture diagonally backwards as well as forwards. Crowning ends the move.
Winning and draws
You win when the computer has no pieces or no legal move left. The game is a draw if the same position comes up three times, or after 40 moves each without a capture or an uncrowned piece moving.
Questions
Are captures compulsory in checkers?
Yes, in English draughts you must capture when you can, and a multi-jump must be finished. You may choose which capture to make when there is more than one; you don't have to take the biggest.
Can a regular piece capture backwards?
No. Uncrowned pieces move and capture only forwards. Kings move and capture in all four diagonal directions.
What happens when a piece is crowned in the middle of a jump?
The move ends there. The new king can't continue jumping until your next turn.
How strong is the hard computer?
It searches many moves ahead with a time limit of about a fifth of a second per move, knows when to trade pieces, and hunts down your last pieces in the endgame. Careful play can still beat it.
Is checkers the same as draughts?
Checkers is the American name for English draughts: an 8 by 8 board, 12 pieces each, and men that can't capture backwards. International draughts uses a 10 by 10 board and different rules.