Common checkers mistakes and how to avoid them

Most checkers arguments come down to a few rule mix-ups. This guide follows the American ruleset on our Checkers rules page.

Rules mistakes

Making a quiet move when a jump is available. Captures are compulsory. If any of your pieces can jump, you must jump.
Stopping a multiple jump early. If your piece can jump again from where it landed, it must keep going.
Demanding the longest capture. You choose any legal route. The maximum-capture rule belongs to other draughts games.
Moving a man backward. Men move and capture forward only. Only kings go both ways.
Letting a new king keep jumping. If your man lands on the far row during a jump, the move ends there. The king can act on your next turn.
Moving a king several squares. Here a king moves one square or jumps one piece at a time.
Using the light squares. All play is on the 32 dark squares.

Leaving a piece with an empty square behind it. An opponent piece next to it can jump into the gap.
Forgetting you are forced too. Before you offer a piece, check which of your own pieces you would be forced to move afterwards.
Emptying the back row early. Enemy men then crown easily.
Running one piece far ahead. Alone, it gets captured or trapped.
Filling the edge. Edge pieces have fewer moves and can run out of safe options.
Trading when behind. Fewer pieces make the deficit more important.