O‘zРусEng

How to win at checkers: strategy for beginners

Many checkers games are decided by a single shot. Here are concrete positions and how to find them, plus simple rules for the middlegame and endgame. Every example has been checked by our engine.

Versus computerPlay onlineWith a friend

Free · no sign-up · phone and desktop

Checkers board: GameUZB

What a shot is and how to find one

Because capturing is mandatory you can force your opponent: give up a piece, they must take it, and their pieces land where you want. Before each move ask: “Where can I force them to land, and are there empty squares between their pieces there?”

Two for one. White to move: 1. d2-e3! f4:d2 2. e1:c3:a5. The black man is forced to d2 and the white man on e1 takes two.
Three for one. 1. c3-b4! a5:c3 2. b2:d4:f6:h4. The empty squares between the black men (d4, f6) line up: always look for this “staircase”.
With promotion. 1. g5-f6! e7:g5 2. h4:f6:d4:b6:d8. The white man takes four pieces and becomes a king on the last row.

5 rules for the opening and middlegame

  1. Take the centre. For White the key squares are c3, d4, e3, f4; for Black f6, e5, d6, c5. A central man can move two ways, an edge man only one.
  2. Keep your back row. c1 and e1 for White, f8 and d8 for Black stop the opponent from crowning; c1 and f8 in particular are called the golden pieces. Leave them at home as long as you can.
  3. Do not leave gaps behind your men. Men standing together cannot be captured. After each move check which man now has an empty square behind it.
  4. When ahead, trade. With an extra man, even exchanges magnify the lead: 3 against 2 is closer to a win than 8 against 7.
  5. Count your spare moves. Sooner or later one side runs out of safe moves and must give up a man. Keep some in reserve.

The endgame: the long diagonal and Petrov’s triangle

  • The long diagonal (a1–h8) is the key line. A lone king on it cannot be caught even by three kings: a draw after 5 moves.
  • If you hold the diagonal, three kings win. The technique is called Petrov’s triangle: the kings trap the opponent through a forced capture. You have 15 moves for it, then the game is drawn.
  • Two kings cannot win against one unless the opponent slips: the 5-move limit applies. So when winning, do not give kings away cheaply.
Practice: play the computer at level 3 and look for at least one shot every game. If you cannot find one, press “Hint” to see what the computer saw.

The same in English checkers

English rules. White: 25-22! 17x26 30x23x16x7. The numbers are English notation: 25 = b2, 22 = c3, 30 = c1.

Men do not capture backwards here, so defending is easier, yet the idea of forcing is the same. More on the differences.

FAQ

What is the best first move?

In Russian draughts moves towards the centre such as c3-d4 or e3-d4 are natural. Going to the edge (like g3-h4) is also possible but makes the fight for the centre harder.

Is one king always enough?

No, a king can be trapped. In Russian draughts, though, it is often worth 3–4 men.

How can I improve quickly?

Short daily practice: 2–3 games with the computer, then go through the record to find where you lost a piece.

See also

Checkers online: real opponents and a ratingCheckers online: real opponents and a ratingclocks, rating, how a game runsCheckers rules, explained with diagramsCheckers rules, explained with diagramsmoves, captures, kings, drawsCheckers vs computer: 5 real levelsCheckers vs computer: 5 real levelslevels, hints, undo
Versus computer