Checkers is played on a standard 64 square board. Only the 32
dark colored squares are used in play. Each player begins the game with 12
pieces, or checkers, placed in the three rows closest to him or her.
The object of the game is to capture all of your opponent’s checkers or
position your pieces so that your opponent has no available moves. Basic movement is to move a checker one space diagonally forward.
If a jump is available, you must take the jump, as described in the next
question and answer.
Jumping
If one of your opponent’s checkers is on a diagonal next to one of your checkers, and the next space beyond the opponent’s checker is empty, then your checker must jump the opponent’s checker and land in the space beyond. Your opponent’s checker is captured and removed from the board.
After making one jump, your checker might have another jump
available from its new position. Your checker must take that jump too. It must
continue to jump until there are no more jumps available. Both men and kings
are allowed to make multiple jumps. If, at the start of a
turn, more than one of your checkers has a jump available, then you may decide
which one you will move. But once you have chosen one, it must take all the
jumps that it can. You can also jump backwards.
Crowning
When one of your checkers reaches the opposite side of the board, it is crowned and becomes a King.
A King can
move backward as well as forward along the diagonals.
A King can also jump backward and forward. It must jump when possible, and it
must take all jumps that are available to it.
