Chinese Checkers: play the classic marble star game online free
Chinese Checkers is a free online version of the classic marble and strategy board game, with a bright star-shaped board and glossy marbles that hop across the holes. Play the computer on four levels (Easy, Medium, Hard and Expert), try the daily challenge where everyone starts from the same position, or challenge a friend in two-player mode on the same screen. It has hints, undo, 18 badges and leaderboards. Play in any browser on a computer, tablet or phone.
How to play Chinese Checkers
- Choose Easy, Medium, Hard or Expert to play the computer, take on the daily challenge, or pick Two players to play a friend on the same screen.
- Tap one of your coral marbles. Every hole it can reach lights up: neighbouring holes for a step, and holes behind other marbles for a hop.
- Tap a highlighted hole to move. After a hop you can keep hopping, so look for long chains over many marbles.
- Bring all ten of your marbles into the opposite corner of the star, the one where the computer started.
- The first player to fill the opposite corner wins. Use Hint and Undo whenever you are stuck.
Mouse and touch: click or tap one of your marbles, then click or tap a highlighted hole. Tap the marble again, or an empty spot, to let go. Keyboard: arrow keys pick a marble or a hole and Enter confirms, Esc cancels, U takes back a move, H shows a hint and N opens the new game menu.
Chinese Checkers rules
| Rule | How it works here |
|---|---|
| ⭐ The board | A six-pointed star with 121 holes. Each player starts with ten marbles filling one triangular corner. The two players face each other from opposite corners. |
| 🚦 Who starts | You choose whether you or the computer moves first. In two-player games Coral moves first. |
| 👟 Stepping | On your turn move one marble one step to any empty neighbouring hole, in any of the six directions. |
| 🦘 Hopping | Or hop over a neighbouring marble, yours or your opponent's, into the empty hole directly behind it. Nothing is ever captured. |
| 🔗 Chains | After a hop the same marble may hop again, as many times as you like, in any direction. The whole chain counts as one move. |
| 🏁 Winning | The first player to move all ten marbles into the opposite corner wins. If the rival is still sitting in your target holes, you may need to wait or hop around them. |
| ⏭️ No move | If a player cannot move at all, the turn passes. This almost never happens. |
Computer levels
| Level | Plays like | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 😊 Easy | Often moves at random and wanders about | Learning the rules and your first wins |
| 🤔 Medium | Always advances and likes long hops, but never plans ahead | Casual players who want a real game |
| 🔥 Hard | Looks several moves ahead and keeps its marbles together | Experienced players |
| 🧠 Expert | Searches deeper, uses your marbles as stepping stones and blocks your chains | A proper challenge |
All levels play by exactly the same rules as you and none of them cheats. 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, Hard or Expert, with your own win and loss record for each level. The Daily challenge starts everyone from the same position each day, played against the Hard computer. Two players, one screen lets two people take turns on the same device. Choose the level, who moves first and the 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 the leaderboard, which has This month and All time panels. A win scores 300 points, plus up to 350 for speed (5 points off for every move after the 12th), plus a level bonus (Easy 0, Medium 100, Hard 250, Expert 450, Daily 250). So a quick win on a high level 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. Losses, given-up games and two-player games are not ranked.
Badges
There are 18 badges for beating each level, winning streaks, fast wins, long jump chains, total hops, blowouts, comebacks, the daily challenge, two-player games 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 Hopper | Beat the computer on Medium. |
| 🔥 Star Master | Beat the computer on Hard. |
| 🧠 Grandmaster | Beat the computer on Expert. |
| 🏆 Hard Fighter | Win 5 games on Hard or Expert. |
| 🎯 Hat-trick | Win 3 games in a row. |
| ⚡ On Fire | Win 7 games in a row. |
| ⏱️ Speedy Win | Win a game in 22 moves or fewer. |
| 🔗 Chain Reaction | Jump over three or more marbles in one move. |
| 🦘 Super Hop | Jump over five or more marbles in one move. |
| 🐸 Hop Hop Hop | Make 100 jump moves in total. |
| 💨 Blowout | Win while the computer still has three marbles in its starting corner. |
| 🔄 Second Wind | Win a game where the computer moved first. |
| 🏃 Marathon | Win a game that takes you 60 moves or more. |
| ☀️ Daily Player | Finish a daily challenge. |
| 👥 Friendly Game | Finish a two-player game. |
| 🎲 Regular | Play 25 games. |
Chinese Checkers tips
- Build ladders. Marbles spaced with one hole between them make a ladder for a long chain. Set one up, then hop across the board in a single turn.
- Use your opponent's marbles. You may hop over theirs too, so a marble standing in the middle of the board helps both sides.
- Do not leave stragglers. The last marble home decides the race, so keep your group together and bring up the ones left behind.
- Control the centre. Marbles in the middle of the star have the most routes to the goal.
- Block with care. A marble placed in the way of your rival's chain can cost them several turns, but do not give up your own progress for it.
- Finish deliberately. Fill the deepest holes of the target corner first, so the last marbles do not get stuck outside.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chinese Checkers free?
Yes. Chinese 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.
How do you play Chinese Checkers?
Each player has ten marbles in one corner of a six-pointed star. On your turn you move one marble, either one step to a neighbouring empty hole or by hopping over a neighbouring marble into the empty hole right behind it. After a hop you may keep hopping in the same turn. The first player to fill the opposite corner with all ten marbles wins.
How do jumps and chains work?
You can hop over any single marble, yours or your opponent's, as long as the hole straight behind it is empty. Marbles are never captured or removed. From the new hole you may hop again in any direction, so a well prepared line of marbles lets you cross half the board in one turn. Tap a marble and every hole it can reach, including whole chains, is highlighted.
Is this the official Chinese Checkers game?
This is an independent version of the traditional star-shaped marble game. Chinese Checkers is a generic, traditional name for a game with no single owner, and Util.Ninja is not affiliated with any board game publisher or brand. The board, marbles and artwork were made for this site.
What are the four computer levels?
Easy often moves without a plan, so it is a friendly way to learn. Medium always likes to advance but misses long chains. Hard looks several moves ahead and plans its jumps. Expert searches deeper still and takes the longest to think, so it is tough even for experienced players.
Who moves first?
You choose in Settings or in the new game menu: move first or let the computer start. Moving first is a small advantage, so a win after the computer started earns the Second Wind badge.
What is the daily challenge?
Every day everybody starts from the same position, with a few seeded opening moves already played, and plays against the Hard computer. Win to put your score on the leaderboard, and come back tomorrow for a new opening.
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. Coral moves first.
Can I take back a move or get a hint?
Yes. The undo button takes back your last move, even through the computer's reply. The light-bulb button marks a good move with a dashed line. Both are just for fun, so use them whenever you are stuck.
Does Chinese Checkers have a leaderboard?
Yes. Wins against the computer are ranked on a leaderboard with This month and All time panels, and the daily challenge has its own board. A win scores 300 points plus up to 350 for finishing quickly (5 points off for every move after the 12th) plus a bonus for the level (Easy 0, Medium 100, Hard 250, Expert 450). 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. Chinese Checkers works on phones and tablets in portrait and landscape: tap a marble, then tap the hole where it should go. On a computer you can also use the keyboard: arrow keys and Enter, U to undo and H for a hint.
More free board and puzzle games: Backgammon, Four in a Row, Reversi, Checkers and Chess.