Step Two: Play By The Rules
Black always begins play, and players take turns from there. After the game, players switch colors. Here are the essentials:
- Checkers move diagonally, one square forward, always onto a dark square. If all the dark squares diagonal to a piece already have pieces on them, that piece is blocked and another must be moved. Checkers can't move backwards unless they have been "crowned" (see below).
- An opposing piece is captured by jumping (always diagonally) over it to an empty square just beyond it. Take the captured piece off the board.
- Any number of checkers may be jumped over and captured in just one move as long as each jump follows the rules. In other words, as long as you keep moving forward on the diagonal, and there are available squares immediately beyond the opposing piece, you can keep jumping. Many players spend most of their time figuring out how to do this. Blocking your opponent's checkers from moving is another important consideration.
- Officially, if an opposing piece is available to be captured, the player whose turn it is must capture that piece. If they fail to do this, the opposing player may a) insist that the moved piece be returned to its original position and the capture made; b) accept the move (but the capture must be made on the next move, if still possible); or c) remove the piece that should have made the capture from the board.
In practice, many people do not require pieces to be captured because they are available. An agreement should be reached beforehand on which method to play by (especially if you're outside of your neighborhood).
 | Back To Learn2 Play Checkers |
| Back To Step One: Play By The Rules |
| On To Step Three: Emerge Victorious |
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