Checkers: play draughts online free
Checkers is a free online draughts game with a polished wooden board and glossy pieces. Play the computer on three levels (Easy, Medium and Hard) or challenge a friend in two-player mode on the same screen. It follows the standard American checkers rules with compulsory jumps, multi-jumps and kings, and it has undo, hints and 18 badges to collect. Play in any browser on a computer, tablet or phone.
How to play Checkers
- Choose Easy, Medium or Hard to play the computer, or Two players to play a friend on the same screen.
- Tap or click one of your pieces, then a glowing square, to move it one step diagonally forward.
- Jump over an enemy piece into the empty square behind it to capture it. Jumping is compulsory.
- Reach the far row to turn a man into a king that can move and jump in every direction.
- Capture all the enemy pieces or leave them with no legal move to win.
Mouse and touch: click or tap a piece and then a glowing square, or drag the piece onto the square. Keyboard: arrow keys move the cursor, Enter or Space picks a piece or a square, U takes back a move, H shows a hint, N opens the new game menu and Esc drops the selected piece.
Checkers rules
| Rule | How it works here |
|---|---|
| 🎲 Setup | Each side has 12 pieces on the dark squares of the three rows nearest to them. Red moves first. |
| 👣 Moving | A man moves one square diagonally forward onto an empty dark square. |
| 🦘 Jumping | If an enemy piece is diagonally next to your piece and the square behind it is empty, you can jump over it and capture it. |
| ⛓️ Multi-jumps | If your piece can jump again from where it lands, it must keep jumping in the same turn. You can capture several pieces at once. |
| ❗ Compulsory jumps | If any of your pieces can jump, you must make a jump. You may choose which one if there are several. This rule can be switched off in Settings. |
| 👑 Kings | A man that reaches the far row becomes a king and its turn ends. A king moves and jumps one square diagonally in all four directions. |
| 🏁 Winning | You win when your opponent has no pieces left or has no legal move. |
| 🤝 Draws | The game is a draw if the same position appears three times, or after 40 moves each without a capture or a man moving. |
Computer levels
| Level | Plays like | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 😊 Easy | Looks only at the next move and sometimes plays a careless one | Learning the rules and your first wins |
| 🤔 Medium | Thinks about five moves ahead and avoids simple traps | Casual players who want a real game |
| 🔥 Hard | Searches many moves deep in a fraction of a second and plays the endgame well | Experienced players and a proper challenge |
All three levels play by exactly the same rules as you, and none of them cheats. You can play as Red (you move first) or as White (the computer starts), and you can take back moves with Undo or ask for a Hint any time it is your turn.
Game modes
Play the computer against Easy, Medium or Hard, with your own win, loss and draw record for each level. Two players, one screen lets two people take turns on the same device: switch on "Turn the board in two-player games" in Settings and the board turns around for each player. Choose the level, colour and players in Settings (the cog), then press the New game button (the circular arrow) to start.
Leaderboards
Every win against the computer can go on a leaderboard, with one board for each level (Easy, Medium and Hard) and Today, This week and All time tabs. A win scores 500 points, plus 40 for each of your pieces still on the board, plus up to 400 for finishing in few moves (400 minus 4 for every move you made). So a fast win with most of your pieces is worth the most. You only pick a nickname, there is no sign-up, and you can change the name, hide your scores or delete them at any time. Draws, losses and two-player games are not ranked.
Badges
There are 18 badges for beating each level, winning streaks, making kings, multi-jumps, flawless and comeback wins, quick wins, two-player games, draws and number of games played. Open the medal button in the game to see your progress.
| Badge | How to earn it |
|---|---|
| 🏅 First Win | Win a game against the computer. |
| 😊 Easy Does It | Beat the computer on Easy. |
| 🤔 Clever Move | Beat the computer on Medium. |
| 🔥 Checkers Champion | Beat the computer on Hard. |
| 🏆 Hard Fighter | Win 5 games on Hard. |
| 🎯 Hat-trick | Win 3 games in a row. |
| ⚡ On Fire | Win 7 games in a row. |
| 👑 Crowned | Make your first king. |
| 🏰 King Maker | Make 50 kings. |
| 🦘 Double Jump | Capture two or more pieces in one turn. |
| 🚀 Triple Jump | Capture three or more pieces in one turn. |
| 🥊 Big Hunter | Capture 200 pieces. |
| 💎 Flawless | Win without losing a single piece. |
| 🔄 Comeback | Win after being 3 or more pieces behind. |
| ⏱️ Speedy Win | Win a game in 20 moves or fewer. |
| 👥 Friendly Game | Finish a two-player game. |
| 🤝 Peace Treaty | Finish a game in a draw. |
| 🎲 Regular | Play 25 games. |
Checkers tips
- Control the centre. Pieces in the middle of the board have more moves and are harder to trap than pieces on the edge.
- Keep your back row as long as you can. It stops your opponent from getting a king easily.
- Move in pairs. A piece with a friend right behind it cannot be jumped.
- Look before you leap. Check what your opponent can jump after your move. Sacrificing one piece to jump two is a classic trick.
- Trade when you are ahead. Swapping pieces one for one makes a lead count for more.
- Get a king early and use it to attack pieces from behind, but do not let it get trapped in a corner.
Frequently asked questions
Is Checkers free?
Yes. Checkers on Util.Ninja is completely free to play online, with no sign-up, no download and no in-app purchases. It runs in your browser on computers, tablets and phones, and your statistics and badges are saved on your own device.
Is this checkers the same as draughts?
Yes. Checkers is the American name for draughts. This game uses the standard American rules: an 8x8 board, 12 pieces each, men that move and jump one square diagonally forward, kings that move and jump both ways one square at a time, and compulsory jumps.
How do I play Checkers?
Tap or click one of your pieces, then tap one of the glowing squares to move it one step diagonally forward onto an empty dark square. To capture, jump over an enemy piece that is next to you into the empty square right behind it. You win when the other side has no pieces left or cannot move.
Do I have to jump?
Yes, by default. If you can jump an enemy piece you must, and if the same piece can keep jumping you must carry on. Pieces that must jump glow gold so you do not miss them. If you prefer a relaxed game, turn off "Jumping is compulsory" in Settings.
What is a king and how do I get one?
When a man reaches the far row of the board it is crowned and becomes a king, shown with a golden crown. A king can move and jump both forwards and backwards. A man that reaches the last row while jumping stops there, and the turn ends.
What are the three computer levels?
Easy plays quickly and makes mistakes, so it is a friendly way to learn. Medium thinks several moves ahead and rarely blunders. Hard searches much deeper, sees tactics well in advance and is tough even for experienced players. The levels do not cheat: they all follow the same rules as you.
Can I play against a friend?
Yes. Choose "Two players, one screen" in the game menu and take turns on the same phone, tablet or computer. Turn on "Turn the board in two-player games" in Settings if you want each player to see their own pieces at the bottom.
Can I take back a move or get a hint?
Yes. The undo button takes back your last move and the computer's reply, as often as you like. The light-bulb button shows a good move for you. Both are just for fun, so use them whenever you are stuck.
How does a game end in a draw?
A game is drawn if the same position comes up three times, or if 40 moves each go by without a capture or a man moving. Draws are common between strong players, especially when only a few kings are left.
Does Checkers have a leaderboard?
Yes. Wins against the computer are ranked on a leaderboard for each level, with Today, This week and All time tabs. A win is worth 500 points plus 40 for every piece you keep and a bonus for finishing in few moves. You only choose a nickname, with no sign-up, and you can delete your scores at any time.
Can I play on a phone?
Yes. Checkers works on phones and tablets in portrait and landscape: tap a piece and then a square, or drag the piece. On a computer you can also use the keyboard: arrow keys to move the cursor, Enter to pick, U to undo and H for a hint.
More free board and puzzle games: Sea Battle, Mahjong Solitaire, Minesweeper and 2048.