Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Basics of Checkers
Start by choosing a side: red or black. In checkers, black goes first. Arrange your checkers on your side of the board so they take up only the dark spaces in the first three rows.
Take turns with your opponent moving your checkers across the board. On each turn, you will move one checker. Only the dark squares are used in the game. You must move diagonally from square to square. At first, you can only move your checkers forward (toward your opponent's end of the board).
Jump your opponent's checker if it's in a square diagonally adjacent to yours. Whenever you jump a checker, remove it from the board. This is called a capture. You can only make jumps over single squares, but you can keep jumping and capturing until your opponent's checkers no longer occupy any adjacent squares.
Try to get your checkers to your opponent's end of the board. If one of your checkers reaches the far row, you get to stack another checker on top of it. This checker is now a "king." It still has to travel diagonally, but it can go backwards as well as forwards. Kings can also be captured like regular checkers.
Win checkers by capturing all of your opponent's pieces, or by boxing in his pieces so he can't make a move.
Employ a trick to win at checkers. Once you and your opponent have each lost three checkers, be sure to keep an odd number of total checkers in each column (the lines of squares perpendicular to you). If you see an even number of checkers in a column, move one of your checkers into it when your turn comes around. Keep playing this way for the remainder of the game. You should win!
Improve Your Checkers Game
Go to your local library and check out several books on checkers. There are books for the beginner and the advanced player that offer tips, strategies and techniques that can enable you to improve your game.
Join a club. The way to win at checkers is through practice and clubs are a great way to get a lot of matches under your belt. If your club plays other clubs, that is so much the better, since you will expand your circle of checkers compatriots and learn new moves and techniques.
Compete against superior players. Unlike some games where you will only frustrate yourself by being outmatched, playing a better player in checkers only helps you to enhance your own game as you pick up useful tools.
Practice with a computer game or on the Internet if you run out of partners. You can really sharpen your skills by engaging in play with virtual players. Computers usually think several moves ahead and you can improve your concentration with such a formidable opponent.
Take your time when playing unless you are in a timed game. Don't take easy captures (taking your opponent's piece) and risk a big loss later on in the game. The way to win at checkers is to try to visualize the board after your current move.
Visit the American Checker Federation's website to get information on tournaments, tips and techniques and where you can find chapters in your area (see Resources below).