Play Checkers Online with Friends
Choose your rules and get matched with a real opponent. Every game below plays free in your browser — no account, no download. If nobody is waiting in your variant's queue, start a search anyway: you can invite a friend with a private link, or play the AI while you wait.
Choose Your Game
How Online Play Works
Quick match pairs you with the next player searching in the same variant — the counts above are live queue numbers. Private games work with a link or code: create one, send it to a friend, and the game starts when they open it. Games run right in the browser on desktop and mobile, and you can offer a draw, resign, or send a quick emote while you play.
Prefer practice first? Every variant also has an AI opponent with three difficulty levels, and a hot-seat mode for two players on one device.
Checkers Online FAQ
What is Checkers?
Checkers, also called Draughts, is a group of strategy board games for two players. American Checkers and International Draughts are the two most popular variants.
How do you play Checkers online?
Pick a variant below and hit Play Online. You are matched with another player looking for a game; if nobody is waiting you can play the AI instead, or create a private game and invite a friend with a link or code. No account needed.
How big is the board?
American Checkers (English Draughts) is played on a 64-square board (8×8). International Draughts is played on a 100-square board (10×10). Canadian Checkers goes bigger still at 12×12.
How many pieces does each player have?
Board size sets the piece count. In American Checkers each player starts with 12 pieces (24 in total). In International Draughts each player starts with 20 (40 in total).
Which color moves first?
It depends on the variant. In American Checkers the dark pieces move first, while in International Draughts the first move belongs to the light pieces.
How do pieces move?
In both games ordinary pieces (men) move diagonally forward, only on the dark squares. The differences show up in capturing and in how kings move.
How do you capture pieces?
Capturing is mandatory in both games, but in American Checkers you choose freely between the available captures. In International Draughts you must take the line that captures the most pieces — the majority rule — and men can capture both forwards and backwards.
What is a King?
A man that reaches the far row is crowned a king. In American Checkers a king moves one square but can move and capture backwards. In International Draughts a king is a flying king: it slides any distance along a diagonal and does not have to stop right behind a captured piece.
Want the full picture on how the variants differ? See the side-by-side checkers variants comparison, or our guide to checkers vs draughts. Complete rules live on the American Checkers and International Draughts rules pages.