Checkers rules Players must move a checker during their turn. No passing. Play is always diagonal in direction, on black spaces. Only kings can move in either direction (forward and backward). Single checkers may only move forward. You may only capture an opponent’s piece if you are adjacent to it and the spot immediately behind it is open.

Checkers is played by two opponents on opposite sides of the game board. One player has dark pieces (usually black); the other has light pieces (usually white or red). White moves first, then players alternate turns. A player cannot move the opponent's pieces. A move consists of moving a piece forward to an adjacent unoccupied square.

Each player has 12 checkers divided between three rows. To set the game up, each player places their checkers on the black squares in the first three rows in front of them. It doesn't matter if you're the white or black player, the pieces always go on the black squares. Checkers can only move diagonally, and they can only move forward.