Checkers
Checkers — English draughts — is a two-player game on the dark squares of an 8 × 8 board. On KachaPlay (kachaplay.com) you play it free in your browser, against the computer, a random opponent, or a friend. This page covers the exact variant we use, how to play, and a few tips.
The rules we use
- Each side starts with 12 men on the dark squares. Black moves first, then players alternate.
- Men move one step diagonally forward and capture forward only, by jumping.
- A man that reaches the far row is crowned a king. Kings move one step in any diagonal — there are no flying kings in this variant.
- Captures are mandatory. If a jump is available, only jumps are legal, and a jumping piece must keep jumping while it can.
- If a man is crowned in the middle of a jump chain, crowning ends the turn — the new king does not continue jumping that turn.
How a game ends
- A player with no legal move (all pieces captured or blocked) loses.
- The same position (including whose turn it is) occurring a third time is a draw.
- Eighty quiet plies — no capture and no plain man move — is a draw.
Ways to play on KachaPlay
Against the computer
Three difficulty levels — Rookie, Sensei and Master. Computer games are for practice: no effect on your rating, no coins or gems.
Online against a random opponent
Get matched with another player. These are rated — checkers keeps its own Elo rating, and online games are where coins and gems come from.
Against a friend
Create a room and share the link or send a friend an invite. Friend rooms are casual (no rating change). Every online game can be no time limit, 5 minutes or 10 minutes per side. For the full rating, level and currency rules, see How to Play.
A few tips
- Keep your back row intact early — it stops the opponent from crowning kings.
- Because captures are forced, you can set traps: offer one piece to win two.
- Try to trade when you are ahead in material and keep pieces when you are behind.
- Control the centre; pieces on the edge have fewer jumps available.
FAQ
Which checkers variant is this?
English/American draughts on an 8 × 8 board with 12 men a side — the most widely played form.
Must I capture if I can?
Yes. If any jump is available, only jumps are legal — the board will not let you skip it.
Can kings fly across the board?
No. Kings move one diagonal step in either direction; there are no flying kings in this variant.
西洋跳棋（中文）
西洋跳棋（英式 draughts）是在 8 × 8 棋盘深色格上进行的双人棋。在 KachaPlay （kachaplay.com）打开浏览器即可免费对战：可选电脑、随机对手或好友。 本节说明我们采用的具体规则、对战方式与几点建议。
我们采用的规则
- 每方 12 枚棋子摆在深色格上；黑方先行，双方轮流走。
- 普通子只能向前斜走一格，吃子也只能向前跳吃。
- 子走到底线升王；王可沿任一斜线走一格——本变体无“飞王”。
- 强制吃子：有吃就必须吃，且一枚子只要还能连跳就得继续跳。
- 若在连跳中途升王，则升王即结束回合，新王本回合不再继续跳。
如何结束
- 无子可动（被吃光或被堵死）的一方判负。
- 同一局面（含轮到方）出现第三次判和。
- 连续 80 个“安静”半回合（无吃子、无普通子移动）判和。
在 KachaPlay 的对战方式
人机对战：三个难度（Rookie / Sensei / Master），仅供练习，不计积分、无奖励。
在线随机对战：与他人配对，计积分——西洋跳棋有独立 Elo 积分，金币钻石也来自在线对局。
好友对战：建房分享链接或给好友发邀请；好友房为休闲局，不计积分。每局在线对战可选不限时、 每方 5 或 10 分钟。全站积分、等级与货币规则见 玩法说明。
几点建议
- 开局尽量保住底线，阻止对方升王。
- 因为吃子是强制的，可以设陷阱：舍一子换两子。
- 子力领先时多兑子，落后时尽量保子。
- 争夺中心；边线上的子可选的跳吃更少。
常见问题
这是哪种跳棋？英式/美式 draughts，8 × 8 棋盘、每方 12 子，最普及的形式。
有吃必须吃吗？是的。只要存在跳吃，就只能吃——系统不允许跳过。
王能横穿棋盘吗？不能。王只能沿斜线走一格，本变体无飞王。