About English Checkers

English Checkers is a free version of the classic board game, also known as draughts. Two players move their pieces diagonally across the board, jump over each other to capture, and try to clear the other side's pieces off the board. It is easy to learn in a minute, yet every game is a real test of tactics and thinking ahead.

Three Ways to Play

At the start you choose a mode. Play against the computer when you want to practice, play online against another player, or share one screen with a friend sitting next to you. That last option makes it a great pick for a quick game with a classmate.

How the Pieces Move

A regular piece moves one square diagonally forward. When a piece becomes a king, it can move one square backward as well as forward, which makes it much more powerful. Getting a piece all the way to the far side of the board is how you earn a king.

Captures and Chain Captures

If one of your pieces sits next to an enemy piece and the square behind it is empty, you must jump over it and capture it. If that jump opens up another capture, you keep going in a chain. One smart move can take several pieces at once, so always look for chains before you move.

Tips for Winning

Keep your back row filled as long as you can, since it stops your opponent from crowning kings. Move pieces in pairs so they protect each other. Before every move, make sure you are not leaving a piece open to a jump.

You can play English Checkers online for free on Yup7 with nothing to download, on computers and Chromebooks. More free board and puzzle games are waiting on our Puzzle Games page.