Checkers

Checkers (also called draughts) is played on the dark squares of an 8×8 board. You play red and move first, advancing diagonally up the board. Jump over opponent pieces to capture them — captures are compulsory — and reach the far row to crown a king that can move in both directions.

The computer uses minimax search with alpha-beta pruning, looking two moves ahead on Easy (with occasional random moves), four on Medium, six on Hard and seven on Expert.

1. Tap one of your red pieces; pieces that can move are outlined.
2. Tap a highlighted square to move there.
3. If a capture is available, you must take it. For multi-jumps, tap each landing square in turn.
4. A piece reaching the far row becomes a king (crowning ends the move).
5. You win when the computer has no pieces or no legal moves. Fifty king moves in a row without a capture is a draw.

• Check what your move forces. Because captures are compulsory, you can set traps — and fall into them.
• Give one, take two: offer a piece so the forced recapture opens a double jump.
• Keep your back row to stop the opponent crowning.
• Control the centre and move in connected groups.
• Trade when ahead, avoid trades when behind.

Guide: Checkers Strategies for Beginners.