Checkers 3D
Classic checkers (draughts) on a polished 3D board, against a computer opponent that goes from friendly to ruthless.
Checkers 3D is a free board game game you can play instantly in your web browser on a phone, tablet or computer, with no download and no sign-up. Classic checkers on a polished 3D board. Jump, chain captures and crown kings against the computer.
- Genre
- Board game, Strategy
- Controls
- Tap a piece, then a square
- Plays on
- Phone, tablet and computer
- Price
- Free, no account needed
How to play checkers
Each player starts with 12 pieces on the dark squares. Red moves first. Tap one of your pieces and the squares it can reach light up. Tap a lit square to move. The goal is to capture all of the computer's pieces or leave it with no legal move.
- Moving: ordinary pieces (men) move one square diagonally forward.
- Capturing: jump diagonally over an enemy piece onto the empty square behind it. The jumped piece is removed.
- Captures are compulsory: if you can jump, you must. If you try another move, the pieces that must capture glow red.
- Multi-jumps: if your piece can keep jumping after a capture, it must carry on in the same turn. Tap the final square and the whole chain plays out.
- Kings: a man that reaches the far row is crowned. Kings move and capture diagonally forwards and backwards, one square at a time.
These are the standard rules of English draughts, also called American checkers. A game is drawn if the same position appears three times, or after 40 moves each without a capture or a man moving.
Controls
| Action | Phone or tablet | Computer |
|---|---|---|
| Select a piece | Tap it | Click it |
| Move | Tap a glowing square | Click a glowing square |
| Turn the camera | Drag the board | Drag with the mouse |
| Flat view | Top view button | Top view button |
| Take back a move | Undo button | Undo button |
Computer levels
- Easy: looks one move ahead and often picks a weak move. Good for learning the rules.
- Medium: sees simple traps and trades but still slips up.
- Hard: searches six moves deep and rarely gives pieces away.
- Expert: thinks as deep as it can in about a second and a half. A real challenge.
Checkers strategy tips
- Guard your back row. While your back row is full, the computer cannot crown kings.
- Control the centre. Pieces in the middle have more moves and are harder to trap.
- Move in pairs. A piece with a friend behind it cannot be jumped from that side.
- Use forced captures. Offer one piece so the computer must jump into a spot where you can take two.
- Trade when ahead. Swapping pieces one for one makes a lead bigger in proportion.
Questions
Can I play checkers against the computer for free?
Yes. Checkers 3D is free with four computer levels, and there is nothing to download or sign up for.
Is checkers the same as draughts?
Yes. Checkers is the American name and draughts is the British name for the same game on an 8x8 board. This version uses those standard rules.
Do I have to jump in checkers?
Yes. In standard rules a capture is compulsory, and the game will show you which pieces must jump.
Can kings move backwards?
Yes. A king moves and captures one square diagonally in any direction.
Is my game saved?
Yes. An unfinished game is saved in your browser, so you can come back to it later.
Prefer other board games? Try Reversi 3D, Chess or Connect 4.