Checkers beginner strategy: control, trades and kings

This guide is for American checkers as taught on our Checkers rules page: forced captures, men that move and jump forward only, and kings that move one square at a time.

Use the forced capture

Captures are compulsory, so you can steer your opponent. Offering one piece to make them jump can pull a piece out of position and open a multiple jump for you. Before every move, ask what your opponent must do afterwards, not only what they might like to do.

Control the centre

Pieces in the middle of the board have more moves and can support each other. Pieces on the edge have fewer options and can be trapped. Do not rush a lone piece up the side.

Keep your pieces together

A piece with a friend diagonally behind it cannot easily be jumped, because the landing square is occupied. Advance in small groups. A piece that leaves the group alone is easy to attack.

Guard your back row

Your back row stops enemy men from crowning. Keep some back-row pieces at home in the opening and middle game, and move them only when you have a reason. Once most of the pieces are gone, the back row matters less.

Trade when you are ahead

If you have more pieces, swapping one for one leaves you with a bigger advantage. If you are behind, avoid trades and look for tactics instead.

Get the first king

A king moves in both directions and is far more flexible than a man. But rushing a man forward alone can lose it. Crown when the path is safe, and remember the move ends as soon as you land on the king row.

Endgame

Kings move one square at a time here, so a lone king can be hard to trap and hard to catch. Bring your kings together and use the board edge to limit the enemy’s moves. If you cannot force progress, agree a draw with your opponent.