American Checkers Rules (English Draughts)
American checkers, known in Britain as English draughts, is the 8x8 game most English speakers grow up with. Men move forward, jumps are compulsory, and kings move one square at a time in any diagonal direction. This page explains every rule the game on this site enforces, how American checkers differs from the other variants we support, and how to play better.
Play it on this site
American rules are the default. Open the game, and you play Black against the computer straight away. To check or change the rule set, open the menu (☰) and look at Rules.
Rules
Board and setup
The board has 8 rows and 8 columns, and only the 32 dark squares are used. Each player starts with 12 pieces on the dark squares of the three rows nearest to them, so the two middle rows begin empty. On this site you play Black from the bottom of the board and move first; the computer plays Red.
Moving
A normal piece is called a man. A man moves one square diagonally forward onto an empty dark square. In American checkers men never move backward and never capture backward.
Capturing
- To capture, a piece jumps diagonally over an adjacent enemy piece and lands on the empty square directly behind it. The jumped piece is removed at once.
- Capturing is compulsory: if any of your pieces can jump, you must jump.
- If the piece can jump again after landing, it must continue in the same turn, and it may change direction between jumps.
- When several captures are available you may choose any of them. There is no rule forcing you to take the most pieces, but you must finish the sequence you start.
Kings
A man that reaches the far row is crowned a king. If a man arrives on the far row by jumping, it is crowned and the turn ends there, even if the new king could jump again. A king moves and captures one square diagonally in any of the four directions. Kings do not fly: they cannot slide across several empty squares.
Winning and draws
You win when your opponent has no pieces left or no legal move. On this site a game is drawn after 40 moves by each side with no capture and no crowning. Tournament draw rules differ in detail; this site uses this simple counter for every 8x8 variant.
All rule sets compared
| Rule | American | Russian | Brazilian | Spanish | Italian | Czech | International 10x10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Board | 8x8 | 8x8 | 8x8 | 8x8 | 8x8 | 8x8 | 10x10 |
| Pieces per side | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 20 |
| Capturing is compulsory | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| A started capture must be completed | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Men capture backward | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
| Kings fly (move any distance) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Men may capture kings | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Must capture the most pieces | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Further capture priority | Free choice | Free choice | Free choice | Most kings | King captures first, then most kings, then earliest king | If a king can capture, a king must capture | Free choice |
| Man reaches the far row during a capture | Crowned, move ends | Crowned, keeps capturing as a king | Crowned only if the capture ends there | Crowned, move ends * | Crowned, move ends | Crowned, move ends * | Crowned only if the capture ends there |
| Captured pieces are removed | At once | At the end of the move | At the end of the move | At the end of the move | At the end of the move | At the end of the move | At the end of the move |
* Our rule sources are silent or disagree on this point; the value shown is how this site plays it.
Strategy tips
- Hold the center. Pieces on the central squares have more moves and are harder to trap than pieces on the edge.
- Keep your back row as long as you can. Pieces on your home row stop the opponent from crowning, so move them only when you need to.
- Move in pairs. A piece with a friend directly behind it cannot be jumped from the front, because the landing square is occupied.
- Count forced captures before every move. Because jumping is compulsory, offering a piece forces your opponent's reply, and a well-placed sacrifice can set up a double or triple jump for you.
- Trade when you are ahead. Swapping piece for piece makes your extra piece count for more.
- Get a king early. A king attacks from behind and is hard to trap. In the endgame, keep your kings active and away from the corners.
Frequently asked questions
Is American checkers the same as English draughts?
Yes. They are two names for the same 8x8 game with 12 pieces each, forward-only men, compulsory jumps and kings that move one square at a time.
Can a man capture backward in American checkers?
No. Men move and jump forward only. Only a king can move or capture backward.
Do you have to take the most pieces?
No. Jumping is compulsory, but when you have several captures you may choose any of them. You must, however, finish the multi-jump you start.
What happens when a man jumps into the king row?
It is crowned and the turn ends there, even if the new king would be able to keep jumping.
When is an American checkers game a draw?
On this site, after 40 moves by each side with no capture and no crowning. Tournament rules use more detailed draw rules.
Other rule sets
- Russian draughts8x8, men capture backward, flying kings, a man crowned mid-capture keeps jumping.
- Brazilian draughts8x8, men capture backward, flying kings, you must capture the most pieces.
- Spanish draughts8x8, forward-only men, flying kings, capture the most pieces, then the most kings.
- Italian draughts8x8, one-square kings, men cannot capture kings, strict capture priorities.
- Czech draughts8x8, forward-only men, flying kings, a king must capture if it can.
- International draughts10x10, 20 pieces each, men capture backward, flying kings, capture the most pieces.
- Checkers without forced captureHouse rule for any 8x8 variant: you may skip a capture and make a normal move.
- All checkers rules and variantsCheckers Rules and Variants