Checkers is a game played on a checkerboard by two people. It is also called draughts (pronounced drafts). The checkerboard most often used in the United States has 64 alternating dark and light squares. Each player has 12 round, flat pieces called men or checkers. In most games, one set is black and the other red or white. The players sit opposite each other, and each arranges his or her men on the first three rows of black squares, one man per square. Two center rows remain open.
The player with the black men starts by moving one black checker diagonally forward toward the red checkers. Then the other player moves a red man toward the black. The men can be moved forward only, and only on the black squares.
The object of the game is to capture or block all the opponent’s men. A man captures an opponent’s man on an adjacent square by jumping over it and landing on the square immediately beyond, which must be vacant. A man may make more than one capture in a single turn. Usually, a player is required to make a capture if possible. All captured men are removed from the board.
If a man reaches the back line on an opponent’s side, it is crowned and becomes a king. A second checker is placed on top of the king to distinguish it from the other men. A king can move and jump backward or forward.
In many countries, more complicated forms of checkers are played. The most widely played game is international checkers, which uses 20 checkers per player and a 100-square board. In this game, men may jump backward as well as forward, and kings may move and jump any distance.
