Checkers Rules
Checkers is a whole family of games, and each one has its own laws. Pick a variant below for its complete rules: the board, how pieces move and capture, how kings work, and how the game ends. Every one is free to play here once you know the rules, against the AI or a real opponent.
Rules by Variant
What Changes Between Variants
Four things separate one variant from the next. Board size runs from the familiar 8×8 up to Canadian Checkers on 12×12. Men's captures may be forward-only, as in American Checkers, or forward and backward, as in International Draughts. Kings either step one square or fly the full length of a diagonal. And the capture rule either lets you pick any jump or forces you to take the line that captures the most pieces.
Want to see it all at once? The checkers variants comparison lays every variant out side by side, and the blog covers checkers vs draughts if the two names trip you up.
Rules FAQ
Are the rules the same for every kind of checkers?
No. Every variant shares the basics (diagonal moves, jumps to capture, and kings on the far row), but they differ in board size, whether men can capture backward, how far kings move, and whether you must take the biggest capture. Each rules page spells out the exact laws for that game.
What is the difference between checkers and draughts?
"Checkers" and "draughts" are two names for the same family of games. American Checkers is called English Draughts in the UK; International Draughts is the 10×10 tournament game. The name usually follows the country, not the rules.
What is a flying king?
A flying king slides any distance along an open diagonal and can land several squares beyond a captured piece. It appears in the Spanish, International, and Russian families. In American Checkers and Pool Checkers the king moves just one square at a time.
Which variant should I learn first?
American Checkers is the simplest starting point: an 8×8 board, forward-only captures, and short-range kings. Once that feels natural, International Draughts on the 10×10 board adds backward captures for men and flying kings.
Ready to play? Head to the online lobby to get matched with a real opponent, or start with American Checkers if you are new to the game.