What are checkers?
Checkers is a logical board game designed for two people. There are dozens of varieties, but one of the most popular and widespread in Russia is Russian checkers. Opponents have 12 pieces each, which are placed in a certain way on a board consisting of 64 squares of black and white colors.
Players take turns moving one checker diagonally one cell and only forward. They can only be moved to dark cells. If your checker is next to an opponent’s checker, behind which there is an empty dark field, you need to “eat” it (jump over it, knocking it off the field, and place yours in a free cell).
When a checker reaches the opposite edge of the board, it automatically becomes a queen and gains a superpower – to move along dark diagonals any number of cells forward and backward.
The winner of the game is the one who “ate” all the opponent’s checkers or put him in such a position that he has no moves left. The victory is also awarded to the one whose opponent gave up and decided to end the game.
What you need to play checkers
The set consists of two items:
1. A playing field of 64 cells, on which white and black cells alternate in a checkerboard pattern, lining up diagonally. For ease of designation of moves, the cells on the left and right are numbered from 1 to 8, and at the bottom and top are designated by Latin letters from A to H.
2. 24 round chips: 12 black and 12 white. Although other colors are also found in modern sets.
How to place checkers at the beginning of the game
Everything is very simple. You need to place the board so that the cell numbers are on the edges. Checkers are placed on opposite sides of the field in three rows of 4 pieces each. They can only be placed on dark cells. There should be chips of only one color on each edge.
How to play checkers
Agree who will play the white checkers and who will play the black ones, or draw lots. The first move is always made by white (unless you have established your own rule).
The most popular combinations to start with are C3-D4 or C3-B4: they will not allow black to gain an advantage on the field. The moves E3-D4 or G3-F4 have a similar effect.
The next move is made by black, then white, and so on in turn. If there is an opponent’s piece next to your checker, and an empty dark cell behind it, you must “eat” the checker. Sometimes you can absorb several at once in one move, moving yours to empty cells. When taking someone else’s piece, you can move diagonally both forward and backward.
If you have several options to strike, you can choose any one – whichever is more advantageous for you.
Let us recall that when a checker reaches the opposite edge of the field, it becomes a queen and can move any number of dark cells diagonally forward or backward. To avoid confusion, such pieces are turned over to the other side or the knocked out one is placed on top.
In this case, if you have acquired a queen by beating your opponent’s piece, and in your new status you are given the opportunity to “eat” another one or several, you must continue the fight with the same move. If your checker has become a queen without taking someone else’s pieces, your opponent moves on.
By the way, the queen is obliged to “eat” the opponent’s checker located in the same diagonal with it, if there is an empty cell further. Moreover, it is possible to occupy not only the cell following the captured checker, but any cell in the same line.
When the opponent has no checkers or no move left, he is considered the loser. If both players have nowhere to move, a draw is declared. Also, at any time in the game, one of the opponents can resign and automatically admit defeat.
What to do to win at checkers
Before making a move, try to calculate its consequences several steps ahead. This way you will be able to build a competent strategy.
Don’t be afraid to sacrifice your pieces. There is a clear rule in the game that you should always hit a checker if possible. Analyze the situation: sometimes it is worth deliberately exposing your piece to a hit in order to knock out two or three of your opponent’s checkers at once in the next move or put him in a difficult position.
Try to keep a few checkers closer to the center of the board. This way you will always have the opportunity to quickly move them to the left or right. For the same reason, do not let your opponent take this advantageous position.
Keep your first row of checkers (the one closest to you) intact for as long as possible. As long as they are in this position, your opponent will not be able to get a queen.
Try to get your checkers to the queens faster. Checkers with a special status have more maneuvers for moves.