The Basic Rule: Regular Pieces Can Only Move Forward

In American checkers (also called English draughts), standard pieces can only move and jump diagonally forward. This means if your piece is in the bottom half of the board moving upward, it cannot jump an opponent's piece sitting behind it. This is one of the defining rules of the game, and it's what makes promoting a piece to a King so exciting and strategically important.

This rule applies whether you're playing checkers 2 player same device, enjoying checkers online 2 players, or challenging yourself in ai mode checkers.

What Changes When a Piece Becomes a King?

Once a regular piece reaches the far end of the opponent's side of the board, it gets "kinged". A King can move both forward and backward diagonally, giving it a massive tactical advantage over regular pieces.

This is why experienced players who understand international draughts strategy will often sacrifice a piece or two just to secure a King early. The added mobility can completely shift the momentum of the game.

Does It Work the Same Way in International Draughts?

Not exactly. International draughts is played on a 10×10 board (compared to the 8×8 board in American checkers), and the rules are notably different. In international draughts, Kings can move any number of squares diagonally in any direction, much like a Bishop in chess. This makes international checkers online a more complex and strategically rich experience than its American counterpart.

If you're used to american checkers online and you switch to play draughts against computer on an international board, you'll quickly notice how much more powerful Kings become. If you want to explore this, you can play draughts online right here.

Why Does the Backwards Jump Rule Matter So Much?

Understanding whether pieces can jump backwards helps you with several key aspects of the game:

Defensive positioning — If your opponent's regular pieces can't jump backwards, you can use that to your advantage by approaching from angles they can't counter without a King.

Forcing promotions — Knowing the limitations of regular pieces helps you predict when your opponent will be racing to King their men. This is critical in checkers vs computer expert scenarios where the AI will always optimise for this.

Endgame planning — In two player checkers, late-game scenarios often come down to Kings vs. regular pieces. Knowing what each can and can't do determines your entire endgame strategy.

Playing Checkers Online to Practice These Rules

The best way to get comfortable with movement rules is simply to play more games. Fortunately, there are great ways to do that for free today.

You can play checkers vs computer at varying difficulty levels to test your understanding without the pressure of a live opponent. Start at an easier setting and work your way up to hard checkers against computer online free as your skills improve. Playing checkers vs ai is particularly useful because the computer will never make illegal moves, so it teaches you the rules naturally.

When you're ready to face real opponents, live checkers with other players online is the next step. There's nothing quite like the unpredictability of a human opponent to sharpen your tactics. You can play a checkers game 100% free online or jump into draughts online 2 player matches whenever you like. Start playing checkers here.

A Quick Note on the History of Board Games

It's worth appreciating just how old these movement rules are. Checkers has roots stretching back thousands of years, and the history of board games shows us that the forward-only movement of regular pieces was a deliberate design choice.

Many of the world's most beloved chess board game online 2 player variants share this kind of asymmetry, where different pieces have different movement capabilities. If you enjoy strategic board games in general, you might also enjoy playing chess online, where every piece type has its own unique movement rules.

Summary: What You Need to Remember

To bring it all together; in standard american checkers game, regular pieces cannot jump backwards. Only Kings can. In international draughts, Kings gain even more power with unlimited diagonal range. Knowing this single rule will immediately make you a smarter player, whether you're in a checkers game 2 player with a friend, playing draughts vs computer, or jumping into checkers 2 player mode online.

Now that you know the rules, the only thing left to do is practice. Whether you want to play draughts against computer online free, challenge a friend in 2 player checkers online, or explore checkers vs computer expert difficulty!