Play Spring Checkers

Spring checkers in your browser

Spring checkers on Checkers Online is the standard game with a spring look. Blossom-pink pieces carry a cherry blossom, white pieces carry a purple tulip, kings wear daffodil-yellow crowns, and the squares are sage green. It's free, you don't need an account, and the board above is ready to play.

The look is the only change. Rules, computer opponent, rating and saved games all match the classic checkers board, so you can start a game here and finish it on the homepage.

What the spring board looks like

• Cherry blossoms and tulips: every Pink piece shows a five-petal cherry blossom with pale petals and a yellow centre, and every White piece shows a purple tulip with green leaves. The pink pieces have pale pink rims and the white ones have cream rims. Pink plays the side the rules call Black, so Pink moves first and the status line reads "Pink's turn" and "Pink wins".
• Daffodil-yellow crowns: every king still wears one, above a smaller copy of its blossom or tulip. Selected squares and hint marks use a matching yellow.
• Sage-green and cream squares: the pieces sit on the green squares, inside a plain dark green frame.

The header and footer turn leaf green and the main buttons turn blossom pink. Pink petals drift down the page background behind the board, and they stop if your device is set to reduce motion. The page stays up all year.

Who to play over spring break

• The computer: four levels, from beginner to hard.
• A friend next to you: press 2 Players and hand the phone or tablet over after each move. Two classmates can share one Chromebook the same way.
• Someone far away: press Create private game and send the link or code. Play Online pairs you with a player from the regular checkers queue instead. The play page has more ways to start a game.

Each player sees the board from their own page. If your opponent came in through the homepage, their screen shows the classic black and white pieces while yours keeps the blossoms and tulips. Chat is limited to six preset emotes, with no typing. Quick matches and lobby challenges are rated with Glicko-2 (guests too). Private games are not. The ratings page explains the numbers.

The rules on the spring board

This is standard American checkers. Each side starts with 12 men on the dark squares, and Pink goes first. A man moves one square diagonally forward and captures forward only. If you can jump, you must, and the same piece keeps jumping that turn for as long as it can. With two different captures open, take either one. A man that reaches the far row is crowned, and its move ends there. Kings move and capture one square diagonally in any direction. You win by taking every enemy piece or leaving your opponent with no legal move. A game is drawn by threefold repetition, or after 40 moves by each side with no capture and no man move. Do you play with optional jumps at home? Use checkers with no forced jump. Every rule is set out on the checkers rules page.

Phones, tablets and Chromebooks

There's nothing to install. The game runs in the browser on phones, tablets, Chromebooks and computers, so a quick game on the porch or at the park only needs a phone. Tap a piece and then its new square, or drag it there. Computer games and one-screen games save on the device, so you can come back to them later. After one computer game with a connection, those games work offline as well, and you can install the site as an app.

More to play after the first game

Try Chinese Checkers, or compare the other versions of draughts in the checkers variants guide. Solve the daily puzzle, and the strategy lessons will sharpen your game. For a game away from the screen, print one of the free printable checkers boards.

More themed boards: Winter Checkers, Summer Checkers, Fall Checkers, Halloween Checkers, Christmas Checkers.

Frequently asked questions

Does my opponent see the spring board?

No. The board you see depends on the page you play from. An opponent who joined from the homepage gets the usual black and white pieces, even though your game has cherry blossoms and tulips.

Is spring checkers free to play?

Yes, and you don't need an account or an app. Open the page and you can play the computer, a friend on the same screen, or a guest online right away.

Are the rules different from normal checkers?

No. These are standard American checkers rules: jumps are compulsory and kings move one square at a time. Pink plays the side the rules call Black, so Pink makes the first move.

Can I play on my phone when I am outside?

Yes. The game runs in your phone's browser, and you can tap or drag the pieces. Once you have played one computer game with a connection, games against the computer and two-player games on one screen work offline too.

Does my rating carry over from the homepage?

Yes. This page and the homepage share one rating, one set of win stats and one saved game. There is no separate spring rating, and a game you start here can be finished there.

Do petals fall on the board?

No. Pink blossom petals drift down the page background, behind the board and the text, so they never cover a piece. They stop if your device is set to reduce motion.