Get the free Checkers app:

Play Free Checkers Online

The Checkers board game is also known as Draughts. It is thought to have originated from an ancient game called Alquerque or Qirkat. Play against the computer or versus a friend:

This free game opens as a web page. No installation. Mobile friendly.
This online Checkers Draughts game has a low difficulty level and is suited for beginners.
↓ Scroll down for instructions.

Embed this game on your website/blog

How to play the Checkers board game

Start a Checkers game online:

Press the play icon on the startup screen.

Select game mode: Play against a friend (2 player game) or play against the computer (1 player game).

Checkers game basics

The game is played by two opponents who faces each other on opposite sides of the checkers gameboard. One of the players has the dark colour pieces and the other one has the light colour pieces.

The two players alternate turns in the game. It is not legal to move an opponent’s piece. A player can move a piece diagonally to an adjacent unoccupied square. If one of the opponent’s pieces occupy that adjacent square, and the square immediately beyond it is vacant, the opponent’s piece may be captured and removed from the game by jumping over it.

When one of the pieces reaches the other side of the board (the row farthest from the player), called the “kings’ row” or “crownhead”, the piece will become “king” and is marked by adding an additional piece on top of it. In this online game, the kings are marked with a crown. Kings have the ability to move and capture backwards as well as forwards.

King: A black piece has travelled to the kings’ row and turned into a king.

Checkers rules

It is only legal to move pieces on the dark squares of the checkers board. A piece may move only diagonally into an unoccupied square and capturing an opponent’s piece is mandatory in most official rules. The player without pieces remaining, or who cannot move, loses the game.

Checkers rules: Mandatory jump. It’s whites turn, and due to the black piece laying next to the marked white piece with a vacant square immediately beyond it, white is forced to jump over it and capture it.

Checkers board game history

A written mention of a game called Alquerque is found in the “Kitab al-Aghani”, a 10th-century encyclopedic collection of songs and poems. The Alquerque game was essentially similar to modern Draughts and Checkers games but played on a 5×5 board.
Some modern rules were added later, including the crowning of pieces to kings (13th century) and mandatory capture (16th century).

Checkers history: Medieval Draughts players (Charles Knight)

The Playpager free Checkers app (Draughts app) is programmed in html5/Js. No flash player needed. Suited for mobile, PC and tablet. No installation or registration. Enjoy. If you like this game, please share. Thanks.

About Playpager Checkers

Get ready to play the ultimate checkers online experience with Playpager! With our free checkers game, you can play against the computer or a friend right in your browser window, no need to install or log in. Playpager’s checkers board game is one of the best on the internet, available on all devices including computer, smartphone, iPad, and tablet. Play checkers game online with the official rules and just one difficulty level. The fun doesn’t end there, Playpager also offers other popular free board games like chess, reversi, dominoes, rummy, pinball, and sudoku. For even more convenience, our checkers game is also available as a free app for both android and iOS. Download the app now and play checkers offline on your device. Playpager is the go-to destination for internet checkers and all your favorite board games.