Captures are mandatory. All 64 squares are used, dark and light. Men move one cell diagonally forward and capture in any of the five cells directly forward, diagonally forward, or sideways, but not backward.
Usually, this is because all of the opponent's pieces have been captured, but sometimes it is because the opponent has no space to move onto (he is “blocked” from moving). In checkers, stalemates don't exist as they do in chess. The rules stipulate that if a player cannot make a move, they automatically lose the game.
A win is scored when an opponent's pieces are all captured or blocked so that they cannot move. When neither side can force a victory and the trend of play becomes repetitious, a draw game is declared. Games similar to checkers were played in the days of the early Egyptian pharaohs (c.
4.7. In the course of a multiple capture, it is forbidden to jump over one's own pieces. 4.8. In the course of a multiple capture, it is permitted to pass over the same empty square more than once, but it is forbidden to pass over the same piece of the opponent more than once.
Players take turns to move a piece of their own colour. Any piece that reaches the far edge of the board is immediately crowned and is thereafter known as a "King". The act of crowning is a physical one - another piece of the same shade is placed on top of the piece in order to distinguish it from an ordinary piece.
A player wins the game when his opponent can no longer make a move. This happens when all his opponent's pieces have been captured or when all of his opponent's pieces are blocked in. Each player begins with 12 pieces placed on the game board as shown.
Starting position Each player starts with 12 men on the dark squares of the three rows closest to that player's side (see diagram). The row closest to each player is called the kings row or crownhead. The player with the darker-coloured pieces moves first. Then turns alternate.
Play Un-crowned pieces can only move diagonally forwards but can capture diagonally forwards AND backwards. A Queen moves by diagonally traversing any number of unoccupied squares. Capturing is compulsory and where there is a choice, the move that captures the greatest number of pieces must be made.
It is played on an 8×8 checkerboard with 12 pieces per side. The pieces move and capture diagonally forward, until they reach the opposite end of the board, when they are crowned and can thereafter move and capture both backward and forward.
Move your checker forward diagonally, always staying on the dark squares. You are only allowed to move one checker per turn, moving one space at a time unless jumping. After the first player takes their turn the next player goes, also moving their checker forward diagonally.