Checkers – play online for free
Checkers is played diagonally on dark squares. Pieces jump opposing pieces to capture and become more mobile kings after reaching the far row.
The game ends when an opponent has no useful pieces or no legal move, so mobility can matter before the material count does.
▶ Play for free nowHow to play
Capture them all
- Tap a piece, then a highlighted square — always diagonal.
- Jump over enemy pieces to capture them.
- Reach the last row to crown a king.
- Win by capturing or blocking every enemy piece.
Practical strategy tips
- Do not open the entire back row without a reason.
- Support advanced pieces diagonally.
- Check possible multi-jumps for both sides.
- Plan the route to a king without breaking the rest of your position.
Strategy
Keep your opening men connected on the dark diagonals. If an opponent jumps the front piece of a supported pair, the rear man may be ready to recapture, so advance groups rather than isolated runners. Trade only when the exchange improves your mobility or preserves a material lead. Central men have access to more useful diagonals than pieces pinned near an edge, making them better at switching between attack, defence and routes toward the back rank.
A king's long diagonal movement changes the endgame. Keep it active near the centre, where it can switch direction and restrict several landing squares; with two kings against one, close those escape routes gradually instead of chasing. The AI offers easy, medium, hard and expert settings: simpler levels choose more directly, while advanced levels assess more follow-up positions. AI and online games use a rating, whereas local two-player results are recorded by score.
Common mistakes
- Pushing lone men deep into enemy territory. Unsupported pieces get jumped without giving you a recapture; move only men that have diagonal cover.
- Trading pieces while you are behind in material. Every even exchange speeds the game toward a simplified position that favours whoever leads; avoid swaps until you recover.
- Rushing a freshly crowned king across the board. Its long range is wasted when the rest of your position is still scattered; crown first, then clean up.
Game modes
VS Computer
Play against the computer
Local 2P
Play with a friend
Online PvP · Online
Play against a real opponent online
Where the game comes from
The forerunner is alquerque, which travelled through North Africa into Spain and is described in a 10th-century Arabic work. In 12th-century southern France the game was moved onto a chessboard, and draughts was born.
Compulsory capture, which many versions use, is the real device. It turns an apparently good move into a trap, because the forced capture can start a chain the other player saw and you did not.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a king?
Any man that reaches the far row is crowned. Kings control far more squares than ordinary men and reshape the endgame at once, so decide early which piece will make the run and clear a path for it.
Which difficulty levels does the AI offer?
Four: easy, medium, hard and expert. Easy selects randomly from legal moves, while medium favours captures, central squares and promotion. Hard and expert search further follow-up positions, making their choices more forward-looking.
Who can I play against?
Three options: the AI at four strengths, a second player on the same device, or real opponents online. AI and online games feed a rating number, while local duels are tracked by score.
Why play Checkers on FunPort?
- Every move forces you to read capture chains for both sides.
- Kings add a second dynamic once the back rows open up.
- Exchange decisions drill material judgement several moves deep.