Checkers Free Online | Play Against Computer

Play Checkers Free Online

Checkers (also called Draughts) is one of the oldest board games in the world, dating back over 5,000 years. At PlayBrain you can play for free against a computer opponent with three difficulty settings. No app, no download, no account needed.

How to Play Checkers

Checkers is played on an 8x8 board. Each player starts with 12 pieces on the dark squares of their three closest rows.

• Move diagonally forward one square at a time onto empty dark squares.
• Jump over an opponent's piece to capture it (mandatory if available).
• Multiple jumps are allowed in a single turn if captures are available after the first jump.
• King me: When a piece reaches the far row, it becomes a king. Kings can move and capture diagonally in both directions.
• Win by capturing all your opponent's pieces or leaving them with no legal moves.

Checkers Strategy Tips

1. Control the center

Pieces in the center of the board have more movement options and are harder to trap. The four center squares are the most powerful positions on the board.

2. Keep your back row intact

Don't rush to move pieces from your back row. Those pieces prevent your opponent from getting kings. Once the back row is empty, your opponent can king pieces easily.

3. Trade when you're ahead

If you have more pieces than your opponent, force trades. Every equal trade increases your advantage. Go from 8 vs 6 to 7 vs 5 — same 2-piece lead but proportionally bigger.

4. Build a bridge

Two pieces side by side on the same row protect each other. Neither can be jumped without the other being able to recapture. Use bridges to advance safely.

5. Force your opponent to the sides

Edge pieces have limited movement and are easier to trap. Push your opponent's pieces toward the sides while keeping yours in the center.

6. Get kings early

Kings are roughly twice as powerful as regular pieces because they move in both directions. Sacrifice a regular piece if it lets you king another piece. A king in the center can dominate the board.

Difficulty Levels

Start on Easy to learn the controls and rules. Move to Medium when you can beat Easy consistently. Hard mode requires actual strategy — controlling the center, planning 3-4 moves ahead, and forcing favorable trades.

Common Beginner Mistakes

1. Moving randomly instead of with a plan. Every move should either improve your position or respond to a threat.
2. Ignoring forced jumps. In standard checkers, if you can jump, you must. Learn to see jumps before your opponent forces you into bad ones.
3. Emptying the back row too early. Your back row is your last defense against kings.
4. Chasing pieces instead of controlling space. Don't chase a single piece across the board while your opponent takes the center.

Similar Board Games to Try

If you enjoy checkers, try these free browser strategy games:

• Chess — deeper strategy with 6 different piece types and more complex tactics
• Connect Four — vertical checkers-like strategy in a simpler format
• Go — territory control on a 9x9 or 19x19 board. Simple rules, endless depth.
• Reversi — flip your opponent's pieces by surrounding them
• Chinese Checkers — hop across a star-shaped board to move all pieces to the opposite side

*Related: Checkers Strategy Guide | Games Like Checkers Free | Speed Checkers Blitz*

Play Checkers Free → — 3 difficulty levels, works on any device.