2 Player Checkers — Play Free with a Friend or the Computer

This page covers every way two people can play checkers. Share one screen in pass-and-play mode, practice against the computer at three difficulty levels, or, when your opponent is in another room or another state, play checkers online against real people at Checkers Online, our sister site. No downloads and no accounts here, just the board.

Play checkers with 2 players on one device

Hit New Game and choose "2 Players · same device." The board sits between you the way a real set would on a coffee table: Black makes the first move, you take turns on the same screen, and the status bar always shows whose move it is. The game highlights every legal move, won't let anyone skip a forced jump, and crowns kings on its own, so the classic kitchen-table argument ("you had to take that jump!") settles itself. Close the tab mid-game and your position is saved on your device, waiting for the rematch.

Play against the computer

No second player around? The computer gives you a real game at three levels. Easy is beatable once you know how the pieces move, which makes it a good warm-up for kids and first-timers. Medium punishes carelessness. Hard looks far enough ahead to spot the double jump you didn't. You choose which color to play, and the site keeps a win-loss record for each difficulty, stored only on your device. The whole thing runs in your browser, so a dropped connection won't end the game.

Want to play over the internet?

Same-screen play needs one device and zero setup, which is why it's the fastest way to start a game when you're both in the room. When you're not, you need actual online multiplayer: two screens, matchmaking or an invite, and a connection. This site skips that part on purpose. For internet games, play checkers online at Checkers Online, where you'll find live opponents around the clock. Not sure which fits? We wrote up same device vs online, and which one you actually need.

Checkers rules in 60 seconds

• Each player sets 12 pieces on the dark squares of their three nearest rows. Black moves first.
• Pieces slide one square diagonally forward onto empty dark squares.
• Capture by jumping over an adjacent enemy piece. Jumping is mandatory, and a chain of jumps must be finished.
• A piece that reaches the far row becomes a king and can move and capture backward too, one square at a time.
• Win by capturing every enemy piece or leaving your opponent with no legal move.

That's honestly most of the game. The full checkers rules add the draw law and settle the arguments that come up in real games.

Get better at it

Short reads for whichever seat you're in, whether you've never set up a board or you're tired of losing to your roommate:

• How to play checkers, a first-game walkthrough for beginners
• How to win checkers, aimed at beating the person across from you
• Kings in checkers: crowning, moving, and what kings can't do
• Checkers jumping rules: forced captures, double jumps, jumping backwards
• Checkers vs international checkers, what changes on the 10×10 board

2 player checkers FAQ