How to Play Checkers

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Checkers Rules & Instructions

checkers gameplay example

Setup

To play Checkers, you will need a checkerboard and checker pieces, typically one set of black and one set of red. The board is set up with each player’s pieces on opposite sides, with the black pieces going first. Players take turns moving their pieces according to the rules of the game.

Objective

The objective of Checkers is to capture all of the opponent’s pieces or to block them so they can’t make any more moves. The first player to achieve this wins the game.

Gameplay

Each player starts with 12 pieces, placed on the dark squares of the board in the three rows closest to them. The pieces can only move diagonally, and can only move forward until they reach the opposite side of the board, at which point they are “kinged” and can move both forward and backward. If a player jumps over an opponent’s piece, that piece is captured and removed from the board.

Endgame

The game continues until a player captures all of the opponent’s pieces or blocks them so they can’t make any more moves. The player who achieves this first wins the game.

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