What Is Checkers / Draughts?
One game, many names
Checkers, known as draughts in much of the world, is not a single game but a family of closely related games. They all share the same heart: two players, round pieces, a checkered board, and the simple goal of capturing or trapping every enemy piece. The differences between versions come down to the size of the board and a few rules about how pieces move and jump.
Only the dark squares
Although the board is checkered in two colors, all the action happens on squares of just one color, traditionally the dark ones. Pieces sit only on dark squares and move only diagonally, so half the board is never used at all. This is why a checkers board can look identical to a chess board yet play in a completely different way.
Men and kings
You start with ordinary pieces called men. A man is limited: it can only step and capture in certain directions. When a man reaches the far side of the board, it is crowned and becomes a king, usually shown by stacking a second piece on top. A king is more powerful, able to move and capture in more directions, and getting one is often the turning point of a game.
How you win
The goal is the same across every version: leave your opponent with nothing to do. You win by capturing all of their pieces, or by blocking them so completely that they have no legal move on their turn. If neither side can make progress, the game is a draw.