Checkers Rules: How to Play English and Turkish Draughts
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Checkers (draughts) is a two-player strategy game on an 8×8 board where you try to capture all of your opponent's pieces or leave them with no legal move. In English/American checkers pieces move diagonally on the dark squares and a piece reaching the far side becomes a king. Zipi also offers Turkish draughts, where every square is used and kings fly across the board.
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Board and setup (English checkers)
English checkers uses only the dark squares of an 8×8 board. Each player has 12 men placed on the dark squares of the three rows nearest to them, leaving the two middle rows empty. In Zipi the white pieces move first.
How pieces move
- A man moves one square diagonally forward to an empty dark square.
- Men cannot move backwards.
- A man that reaches the far row becomes a king, shown in Zipi with a gold crown.
- A king moves one square diagonally in any direction, forwards or backwards.
Capturing rules
You capture by jumping diagonally over an adjacent enemy piece onto the empty square directly beyond it. Men capture forwards only; kings capture in any diagonal direction, one square at a time.
- Capturing is mandatory: if you can capture, you must.
- Multi-jumps: if the landing square allows another capture, the same piece must keep jumping in the same move.
- Free choice of sequence: when several captures are available you may choose any of them; you do not have to take the most pieces.
- Captured pieces stay until the move ends: they are removed afterwards and cannot be jumped twice.
- Crowning ends the move: a man that reaches the king row during a jump stops there and is crowned.
Winning and draws
| Situation | Result |
|---|---|
| The opponent has no pieces left | Win |
| The opponent has pieces but no legal move | Win |
| The same position occurs three times | Draw |
| 40 moves with no capture and no man moved (English) | Draw |
| 40 moves with no capture (Turkish) | Draw |
| Each side has only a single king left | Draw |
A move counter is always visible in Zipi so you know how close the 40-move limit is.
Turkish draughts: the other rule set
Turkish draughts is played on all 64 squares. Each side has 16 men on its second and third rows. Men move one square forward or sideways, never diagonally or backwards, and capture forward or sideways by jumping orthogonally.
- A king (dama) flies like a chess rook, any distance in a straight line, and can capture a distant piece, landing on any empty square beyond it.
- You must take the maximum number of pieces. The count is what matters, not whether they are men or kings.
- Captured pieces are removed immediately during a chain.
- A king may turn 90° between captures but may not reverse 180°.
| Rule | English | Turkish |
|---|---|---|
| Squares | Dark only | All |
| Pieces each | 12 | 16 |
| Men move | Diagonally forward | Straight forward or sideways |
| Kings | One step | Fly any distance |
| Capture choice | Any sequence | Maximum capture |
Zipi variant: in official English checkers the dark pieces move first; in Zipi white moves first in both rule sets.
Common mistakes
- Ignoring forced captures: an opponent may offer one piece to force you into a jump that sets up a double or triple jump for them.
- Emptying your back row early: it lets enemy men crown easily.
- Scattering pieces: pieces side by side protect each other; a lone piece is easy prey.
- Forgetting kings move backwards: a king can attack pieces that seemed safe behind it.
Checkers strategy tips for beginners
- Control the centre: central pieces have more options and block your opponent.
- Advance in groups: a piece backed up by another cannot be jumped because there is no empty landing square.
- Use forced captures: sacrifice a piece to drag an enemy piece into position for your own multi-jump.
- Guard your king row: keeping two back-row pieces home for a long time delays enemy kings.
- Trade when ahead: exchanges help the side with more pieces; when behind, keep the position closed.
- Think about blocking: leaving the opponent with no legal move is also a win.
Play checkers online on Zipi
Checkers opens in your browser on Zipi. In English the game starts with English checkers and in Turkish with Turkish draughts, and you can switch at any time in the menu. In the career you climb from Beginner to Grandmaster and endless Legend levels against our own engine, with three undos per game. Online you can play a friend via room code or invite link, or a random world opponent, with the rule set chosen by the room creator. Two players can also share one device.
FAQ
Is capturing mandatory in checkers?
Yes. If a capture is available you must take it, and continue jumping with the same piece if more captures follow.
Do you have to take the most pieces?
Not in English checkers, where you may choose any capture sequence. In Turkish draughts you must take the line that captures the most pieces.
How does a piece become a king?
A man that reaches the opponent's back row is crowned. In English checkers this ends the move even in the middle of a jump sequence.
Can kings move backwards?
Yes. In English checkers a king moves one square diagonally in any direction; in Turkish draughts it flies any distance in a straight line.
When is a checkers game drawn?
In Zipi on threefold repetition, after 40 moves without progress, or when each side has only one king left.
What is the difference between English and Turkish draughts?
English uses the dark squares, 12 diagonal men and one-step kings with free choice of capture. Turkish uses every square, 16 orthogonal men, flying kings and a compulsory maximum capture.
How do you win at checkers?
Capture all of your opponent's pieces, or leave them with no legal move.
