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Tournament Rules for Checkers

Checkers tournaments come in two general forms: those that are free-to-all and those that are sanctioned by the ACF (American Checker Federation). While groups of friends and community organizations tend to organize the former, the latter are usually organized by ACF members, and---in most states---ACF membership is a requirement for entrance in the tournament. In any case, there are several ACF-approved tournament rules for checkers that you can follow to ensure proper game play and etiquette.

Board and Piece Regulations
- According to the ACF, tournament game play requires that you use a checkerboard that has alternating green and buff (a light yellowish-beige color), two-inch squares. You should position the board so that green squares are in the bottom right-hand corners. The checkers themselves should be round, white and red in color and have diameters between one and one-quarter and one and one-half inches. All checkers should occupy green squares.
Moving and Jumping
- The player using the red checkers gets the first move (you can determine color assignments through a coin toss). Subsequently, players will alternate moving their pieces diagonally forward, one space at a time. If an opponent's piece is diagonally between one of your pieces and an open square, you can jump that piece and remove it from the board. Additionally, you can link together multiple jumps, provided there are open spaces behind your opponent's pieces and you remain moving diagonally forward.
Time Restrictions
- According to usacheckers.com, during checker tournaments, each player must complete a minimum of 30 moves each hour. Once you have completed the required 30 moves, you can add another hour to your play clock. If you are unable to complete 30 moves in the allotted time, you will forfeit the game and your opponent will automatically be declared the winner. However, other time restrictions will help ensure that doesn't happen. These include a one-minute limit when there is only one way you can jump an opponent, and a five-minute limit when there are two or more ways you can jump an opponent.
Crowning
- When you successfully move a piece all the way to the crownhead, or the other end of the board, your opponent must add a piece on its top to signify a crown. Once crowned, your piece can move and jump your opponent's pieces both diagonally forwards and backwards.
Distractions
- According to usacheckers.com, all distracting noises, signs and motions are illegal and---if persistent---can result in forfeit. If spectators are the ones creating the distractions, they should be asked to leave the premises.

Chess & Checkers