How to Win at Checkers: Strategy for Beginners

Can you win at checkers every time? Against a perfect opponent, no — the game was mathematically solved in 2007, and perfect play is a draw. But nobody plays perfectly. These are the principles that win the vast majority of games against ordinary players. (New to the game? Start with the checkers rules.)

1. Guard your back row

Your back row is your defence against enemy kings. The longer you keep pieces there, the longer your opponent goes without one.

You do not need all four. The classic defence is the bridge: two pieces left on your back row with one empty square between them. Together they make it very hard for a single enemy piece to get through and crown.

2. Control the centre

Pieces in the middle of the board have more options and restrict your opponent's. Pieces on the edges are safe from capture — they can only be attacked from one side — but they are passive. Aim for the centre early and keep the edges for safety later.

3. Move in groups

A lone piece out in front gets picked off. Pieces that move together, backing each other up diagonally, cannot be jumped — the square behind each one is occupied.

4. Use forced jumps as traps

Captures are compulsory. That means you can offer a piece on purpose: your opponent must take it, and the jump lands their piece exactly where you want it — often in position for you to make a double or triple jump in reply.

Before every move, ask: "If I give this piece, where does the capturing piece end up?" And before every capture of your own, ask whether you are being lured.

5. Trade when you are ahead

When you have more pieces, exchange one for one. Ten against nine is close; three against two is usually a win. When you are behind, avoid trades and keep the board crowded.

6. Get the first king

The first king usually wins. A king moves backwards, which lets it attack from behind and sweep up stragglers. Once you have a king, work towards a second.

7. Don't rush

Every checkers game has a moment when one side runs out of safe moves and has to give up a piece. Keep spare, harmless moves in reserve — pieces at the back that can shuffle forward — so that it is your opponent who runs out first.

The endgame: two kings against one

A lone king will run to one of the double corners — the corners with two dark squares — where it can shuttle back and forth. With two kings against one, you can still trap it: use one king to take away the escape square and the other to force the lone king out, then capture. It takes practice to do it smoothly, so try setting it up on the board and playing it out.

Can you win in three moves?

Not against anyone who knows the rules. Short wins only happen when a player walks into a multiple jump. The best defence is the habit of checking every diagonal before you move.

Checkers is often the first strategy game people learn, and a set that folds up with chess and backgammon covers a lot of evenings.