Checkers guide
Checkers guide
English draughts rules, the mandatory-capture rule, kings, the simple capture variant, and the local match record.
Rules
- Board: 8×8, pieces on dark squares, 12 per side. Dark (Player 1) moves first.
- Men: step one diagonal forward to an empty square.
- Kings: move one diagonal in any direction. Captured on promotion? No — kings appear when a man reaches the opponent’s back row. A king moves like a man but in all four diagonals; NoCharge has no flying kings (a king does not slide multiple squares).
- Capture: jumping an adjacent enemy over an empty landing is mandatory when any jump exists. A capture chain of multiple jumps continues with the same piece and the same turn until no more jumps exist.
- Win: you capture all the opponent’s pieces or leave them with no legal move.
Variant, stated exactly
NoCharge plays English draughts with the simple capture rule: when multiple jumps exist, the player may take any legal one; the game does not enforce “must take the longest sequence”. Some tournament and informal variants enforce the longest chain — NoCharge does not claim to implement those.
Controls
| Action | Pointer / touch | Keyboard | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Select your piece | Tap your piece | Enter | Legal destinations highlight green |
| Move / jump | Tap a green square | Arrow to it, Enter | Captures mandatory |
| Multi-jump | Keep tapping green squares | Enter with the same piece | Turn stays until chain ends |
| New game | Play again | Toolbar shortcut | Fresh 12-vs-12 board |
Quiet tactics
- Count jumps before you move. A forced capture can move your piece into a worse square; “must capture” is a rule, not a suggestion.
- Keep pieces in pairs. A lone piece is easier to fork than a pair that supports each other.
- Trade when ahead in count. Simpler endgames reward the player with more material.
- Push for promotion first. A king changes the game; the guide calls this a heuristic, not a guarantee.
What NoCharge records
One most-recent match record per game under nocharge:passplay:match:checkers: mode, result, score, date. No move history, no names.
Accessibility and limits
Board cells announce row, column, piece type, and color; mandatory captures are announced in the status line before any move. Arrow navigation uses the row-major grid, which the guide notes is an approximation of the diagonal movement lines. NoCharge makes no claim about strategy skill or brain training; the variant section is the contract.
Next step
Play one game with a friend. For an open-board five-in-a-row contrast, see Gomoku.
Frequently asked questions about Checkers
How do I play Checkers?
English draughts rules, the mandatory-capture rule, kings, the simple capture variant, and the local match record.
Does Checkers need an account?
No. The game opens without an account, and NoCharge does not provide cloud profiles or synchronized saves.
What controls does Checkers support?
Move: Tap your piece, then tap a highlighted destination; arrow keys move the cursor and Enter selects or moves. Capture: When a jump is available it is mandatory. A multi-jump continues with the same piece and same turn. Handoff: The shared handoff names the next player between turns; the open board stays visible. Variant: English draughts, simple capture rule: any legal jump may be taken; the game does not force the longest sequence. No flying kings.
Where does Checkers keep saved results?
Any result or preference the game retains is stored in local storage in this browser. The exact value differs by game, does not synchronize, and can be removed with Clear game data.
What happens if I switch tabs while playing Checkers?
The shared game shell pauses while the page is hidden and stops ambient audio. Returning removes the hidden-page pause, but a manual pause remains in place.
How do I restart Checkers?
Use New game in the shared toolbar or settings panel. Restarting this game does not clear saved results from other games.
Is Checkers timed?
The listed session is 8–25 min. Read the timing and scoring sections in this guide because modes within a game can behave differently.
How do sound and ambient controls work in Checkers?
Master mute silences effects and ambient audio. Effects on/off changes game effects only, and the volume control also adjusts an active ambient texture.