Play Checkers Online

Checkers the way it should look. Play the computer or a friend, then explore every variant of the game.

Last updated: June 2026

Play every variant of checkers

Every type of checkers in one place — pick a rule set, board size, or just an unfamiliar style. Each variant gets its own page with the full rules.

American Checkers 8×8 · Standard Standard 8×8 American checkers (English draughts). 12 pieces a side, mandatory captures, single-square kings — the version most people mean by "checkers online". You're here

International Draughts 10×10 · Flying Kings · Polish International draughts on the 10×10 board, also called Polish draughts. 20 pieces a side, flying kings and backward captures — the world-tournament variant of checkers. Play It →

Brazilian Checkers 8×8 · International Rules Brazilian checkers — the International ruleset on the familiar 8×8 board. Flying kings, backward captures and the maximum-capture rule on the small board you grew up with. Play It →

Russian Checkers 8×8 · Mid-Jump Promotion Russian draughts on the 8×8 board. Flying kings, backward captures and mid-jump promotion: a piece crowned in the middle of a multi-jump keeps capturing as a king. Play It →

Canadian Checkers 12×12 · International Rules Canadian draughts on the biggest mainstream board: 12×12 with 30 pieces a side. Flying kings, backward captures, the deepest calculation in the checkers family. Play It →

Turkish Checkers 8×8 · Orthogonal · Dama Turkish checkers (Dama) — pieces move and capture orthogonally across every square of the 8×8 board. The variant where checkers stops feeling like checkers. Play It →

Chinese Checkers Star Board · No Captures Chinese checkers — a racing game on a six-pointed star board (originally German Stern-Halma, not Chinese). No captures, no kings; the first to fill the opposite point wins. Play It →

See the full breakdown on the variants hub or the how-to-play guide.

A free game of checkers, the way it should look

Checker Games is a free online checkers game you can play instantly — no account, no download, no clutter. Pick your difficulty and start a game against the computer, or hand the board back and forth with a friend on a single screen. Every game runs right in your browser on desktop, tablet, or phone.

Checkers (known as draughts in much of the world) is one of the oldest strategy games still played today, and its appeal hasn't changed: the rules take a minute to learn, but the game takes far longer to master. Checker Games keeps that classic intact and simply gives it a board worth looking at.

Play against the computer — three levels

Choose Easy, Medium, or Hard. Easy is a friendly opponent for new players and kids still learning how the pieces move. Medium plays a solid, sensible game. Hard looks several moves ahead, punishes loose play, and will make you earn every win. The engine enforces the full rules — mandatory captures, multi-jumps, and kinging — so it always plays a legal, honest game.

Two-player on one screen

No second device needed. In two-player mode the board sits still and each player keeps their own side, exactly like a real board on a table — set the phone down between you and play. Whoever's turn it is gets the spotlight, so there's never any confusion about who moves next.

Every way to play checkers

Most sites give you one version of checkers. Checker Games is building the full set. Standard American checkers is live now, with more variants on the way — International draughts on the larger 10×10 board with flying kings, plus Brazilian, Russian, Turkish, and Canadian rules, and Chinese checkers. One home for every version of the game — see them all.

Make it yours

Switch the look to match your mood: a classic wood-and-felt board, a bright arcade theme, or a clean minimal set. Your choice sticks for next time. It's the same great game underneath — just the board you'd rather stare at while you think.

How to play

New to the game? Here's checkers in thirty seconds:

Each player starts with 12 pieces on the dark squares of the three rows nearest them.
Pieces move one square diagonally forward.
Capture by jumping an opponent's piece into the empty square beyond it — and if another jump is available with the same piece, you keep going.
Captures are mandatory: if you can jump, you must.
Reach the far row and your piece becomes a king, free to move and jump both directions.
Win by capturing all of your opponent's pieces, or leaving them with no legal move.

Want the full walkthrough, setup diagram, and strategy? Read the complete guide: How to Play Checkers →

Frequently asked questions

Is Checker Games free to play?

Yes. Every game on Checker Games is completely free, with no account or download required. Open the page, pick your mode, and play. You can play against the computer or a friend as many times as you like.

Can I play checkers against the computer?

Yes. You can play the computer at three difficulty levels — Easy, Medium, and Hard. Easy suits beginners and children, Medium plays a balanced game, and Hard thinks several moves ahead for experienced players who want a real challenge.

Can two people play on the same device?

Yes. Two-player mode lets two people play on one screen — ideal for sitting opposite each other with a phone or tablet flat on the table. The board stays fixed like a real board, and the active player is highlighted so it's always clear whose turn it is.

Do I need to sign up or install anything?

No. Checker Games runs entirely in your web browser with no signup and no installation. It works on desktop, laptop, tablet, and mobile.

What's the difference between checkers and draughts?

They're the same game. "Checkers" is the common name in North America, while "draughts" is used in the UK and much of the world. Some regions play variants on larger boards or with slightly different king rules, all of which Checker Games is adding.

How do you win at checkers?

You win by capturing all of your opponent's pieces, or by leaving them with no legal move on their turn. Strong play comes from controlling the center, keeping your pieces supported rather than isolated on the edges, and using mandatory captures to force your opponent into bad positions.