Use and Care Manual

Check
You know what checkmate or mate is, but we haven't yet explained the baby brother of checkmate called
check. When a king has been attacked and can be taken on the next move but can escape, it is called
check. Just like when you announced you were going to castle, it's also considered good manners to tell your
opponent he's in check "CHECK". Standing up for the announcement is optional.
The Ending
You know about checkmate, which ends the game, but there are three other possible endings to a
game. One possibility is a stalemate or draw, meaning that with the given pieces left on the board, neither
player can win. For example, a king against a king. There are no winning possibilities for either side in this
situation. Another possible outcome is for one player to resign. A game can become so one-sided (both
remaining pieces and position) that the advantage is too great for the other player to overcome. When this
happens, the disadvantaged player can simply call "uncle" and give it up. But don't give up too easy,
mistakes can always be made. The third possibility is a draw, even though a checkmate is possible.
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Rules for Checkers
1. Checkers is played by two players. Each player begins the game with 12 colored discs.
(Typically, one set of pieces is black and the other red.)
2. The board consists of 64 squares, alternating between 32 dark and 32 light squares. It is
positioned so that each player has a light square on the right side corner closest to him or her.
3. Each player places his or her pieces on the 12 dark squares closest to him or her.
4. Black moves first. Players then alternate moves.
5. Moves are allowed only on the dark squares, so pieces always move diagonally. Single pieces
are always limited to forward moves (toward the opponent).
6. A piece making a non-capturing move (not involving a jump) may move only one square.
7. A piece making a capturing move (a jump) leaps over one of the opponent's pieces, landing in a
straight diagonal line on the other side. Only one piece may be captured in a single jump;
however, multiple jumps are allowed on a single turn.
8. When a piece is captured, it is removed from the board.
9. If a player is able to make a capture, there is no option -- the jump must be made. If more than
one capture is available, the player is free to choose whichever he or she prefers.
10. When a piece reaches the furthest row from the player who controls that piece, it is crowned and
becomes a king. One of the pieces which had been captured is placed on top of the king so that it
is twice as high as a single piece.
11. Kings are limited to moving diagonally, but may move both forward and backward. (Remember
that single pieces, i.e. non-kings, are always limited to forward moves.)
12. Kings may combine jumps in several directions -- forward and backward -- on the same turn.
Single pieces may shift direction diagonally during a multiple capture turn, but must always jump
forward (toward the opponent).
13. A player wins the game when the opponent cannot make a move. In most cases, this is
because all of the opponent's pieces have been captured, but it could also be because all
of his pieces are blocked in.
Tips:
1. Checkers (using the U.S. rules) uses the same board as Chess. Many sets comes with the
pieces needed to play both games.