Should You Jump in Checkers? Tips for Gamers

Checkers is a game that has been played for centuries. In fact, experts can trace the earliest variations of this tabletop game can be traced right back to Iraq in 3,000 B.C.E. While the game has changed a considerable amount since then (especially as you can now play online), this means there’s a wealth of guidance available for those looking to improve their gaming skills!

After all, checkers is a game of strategy. This means that some numerous tips and tricks can be used to increase your chances of besting your opponent. However, before you can start learning more about specific strategies, you have to ensure that you understand the basic rules of gameplay, as well as the moves you can make.

The standard move within a game of checkers is called a ‘jump.’

In this article, we’ll provide you with more insight into jumping in checkers!

Jumping in Checkers: Everything You Need To Know.

What is jumping in checkers?

Jumping refers to moving your peice across the board, whether you’re trying to get to the other side to turn a peice into a King peice (more on that later) or capture your opponent's checkers and secure yourself a victory.

A standard checker can ‘jump’ to a tile on a diagonally adjacent forward square (known as a single jump). A king peice, which is a checker peice that has reached the opponent's side of the board, can move diagonally in any direction, making it an incredibly powerful asset during your game (known as a king jump). However, in both cases, the tile they are jumping to must be vacant.

If you are attempting to capture your opponent's checker, you have to jump diagonally over a tile containing one of their checkers. This means the tile on their diagonal that corresponds with your own piece must be vacant. In some cases, you may have the chance to capture two tiles consecutively based on where the checker jumps to (known as a double jump).

Do You Have to Jump in Checkers?

In many games of this nature, players are given the option to skip or pass when they do not want to make a move. However, this is not the case with Checkers! Players must jump when it is their turn to make a move. This sometimes means that you are forced to move your checker into a less-than-optimal position, which is why strategy plays such as key role in checkers.

Exploring Force Jumps in Checkers

As mentioned above, there’s no opportunity to pass or skip when playing checkers. This means that force jumps play an active role in gameplay, though there are some variations of the game that allow you to do exactly this.

At 247 Checkers, we’ve added a feature to the setting section that allows players to disable force jumps. While this does not mean you can skip a move, you can determine whether or not you want to capture multiple checkers at once or a single checker (your options will be highlighted in red before selecting a tile to move to). Of course, it's generally advisable to remove pieces from gameplay as quickly as possible in order to increase your chances of success. When playing with the force jump option on, Double Jumps will be performed automatically on your behalf.

The Role of Kings in Checkers

A checker becomes a King checker when it has reached the opposing side of the board. When playing 247 Checkers, you’ll know when you’ve reached this goal, as the checker will now feature a small crown logo. As mentioned above, this is the most valuable peice on the board, due to the fact that it is far less limited in terms of movement than a standard checkers peice.

Understanding How Kings Move

As mentioned above, Kings can move diagonally in any direction - forward and backward. This allows you to take control of the board fairly quickly, as you’re dealing with fewer limitations. This can make it easier to encourage your opponents into positions that you can take advantage of. However, you should proceed with caution; King Checkers can be captured just as easily as standard checker pieces.

Checkers Rules: Mandatory Jumps

As outlined above, it is part of the rules of the game that both King checkers and standard checkers must jump during their turn. There are many reasons why this is part of the gameplay. For example, it ensures that there will always be a winner in the game. Otherwise, you may simply opt to stay on opposing sides of the board indefinitely!

Taking Your Jumps in Checkers

Taking your jumps in checkers is relatively straightforward. This is because there are only so many places you can move. Remember, you’re looking out for unoccupied tiles on your upper diagonal or tiles that you can jump to in order to capture an opponents piece. If you’ve already secured a King checker, you can move diagonally in any direction.

When you’re playing online, taking your jump is easier than ever. This is because we provide you with guidance on where you can move on the board. For example, when you select a checker, the available tiles will be highlighted in green. This means that you can then decide which direction you want to move in. If you have the opportunity to double jump or capture an opponent's checker, the tile you should move to will be highlighted in red.

This guidance is available no matter what difficulty you select: Easy, Medium, Hard or Expert.

Can You Pass in Checkers?

You do not have the option to pass in a standard game of checkers. While this may seem frustrating, it's a great way to keep players actively engaged in gameplay, making for a more competitive match overall, whether you are playing against others online or in person. Furthermore, there are plenty of strategies that you can employ to ensure that every jump brings you one step closer to victory!

Game Strategy with Kings and Jumping

There are many strategies that you can use in order to increase your chances of winning, even as a beginner!

• Create chains. Creating chains (diagonal lines of tiles) is one of the easiest ways to protect yourself during a game of checkers. After all, this means that you aren’t leaving any spaces for your opponent to occupy, making it harder for them to capture your pieces.
• Put your opponent in difficult positions. As all jumps are mandatory in a game of checkers, you should try to limit your opponents as much as possible based on where you move your checkers. This means that they may be forced to sacrifice checkers by moving them directly into the line of fire, making it easier for you to win!
• Try to control the center of the board. While you can capture your opponent's checkers from any tile on the board, controlling the center of the board is often considered to be advantageous. This is often because it allows you to cluster your pieces into a specific place, limiting your opponent's options in terms of movement.
• Switch to King tiles as early as possible. King tiles are the most powerful or advantageous tiles on the board. This means that you should work to obtain them as quickly as possible. However, it's often advised that you don’t try to move to your opponent’s half of the board until most of their tiles have moved out of your way. Otherwise, you’re putting yourself at risk of capture. There’s a delicate balance to strike here, but it's a skill that you’ll develop quickly when playing as you’ll be able to determine which is the best time to strike.
• Take your time. When playing casually or online, there’s no time limit on how long you can take to make a move. While you should aim to move quickly in order to keep the game’s momentum going, don’t be afraid to explore different options by selecting different tiles before committing to move. This will help you to determine the best course of action.
• When playing online, you can click the lightbulb button on the left-hand side of the screen to receive a tip. However, doing so adds 60 seconds to your timer.

In short, there are numerous steps that you can take to become a better checkers player, all of which encourage you to embrace the challenge associated with playing this game. However, the fastest (and perhaps most efficient) way to achieve this goal is through playing checkers more often!

Thanks to 247 Checkers, this is easier than ever. After all, thanks to our user-friendly, innovative design, you can press play anytime, anywhere, and from any device. You can also choose between numerous difficulties and styles to keep things interesting and develop your skills quickly. If you’re ready for a serious challenge, you can also play online against other players or try your hand at our daily challenge to see if you’ll end up on the leaderboard!

DISCLAIMER: The games on this website are using PLAY (fake) money. No payouts will be awarded, there are no "winnings", as all games represented by 247 Games LLC are free to play. Play strictly for fun.