Play Draughts Online — Free Draughts Game
Welcome to free online draughts. If you grew up calling it draughts rather than checkers, you are in the right place — draughts and checkers are the same game, and the board above plays standard 8×8 English draughts. You take the red pieces against the computer; there is no sign-up and nothing to download. Just start moving.
Is Draughts the Same as Checkers?
Yes. "Draughts" is simply the British name for the game Americans call "checkers." It is played in the UK, Ireland, India, South Africa, Australia, and across the Commonwealth under the name draughts, and the rules are identical to American Checkers: an 8×8 board, 12 pieces per side, diagonal moves, mandatory jumps, and kings earned by reaching the far row. So whether you searched for "draughts" or "checkers," this is the game you wanted.
How to Play Draughts
The rules of draughts are quick to learn:
- Move a piece one square diagonally forward onto an empty dark square.
- Capture by jumping diagonally over an adjacent opponent piece to the empty square beyond it. Captures are mandatory — if you can jump, you must.
- Chain jumps: if the same piece can keep capturing, it must continue (a multi-jump).
- Crown a king by reaching the opponent's back row — kings move and capture both forwards and backwards.
- Win by capturing all of your opponent's pieces or blocking their every move.
For the complete ruleset, see our draughts & checkers rules guide, or the step-by-step beginner's guide.
English Draughts vs. International Draughts
The version above is English draughts (8×8) — by far the most common when people say "draughts." There is also international draughts, a larger competitive variant popular in continental Europe and world championships:
| Feature | English Draughts (this game) | International Draughts |
|---|---|---|
| Board | 8×8 (64 squares) | 10×10 (100 squares) |
| Pieces per player | 12 | 20 |
| Man movement | One square diagonally forward | One square diagonally forward |
| Man captures | Forward only | Forward and backward |
| Kings | Move one square any diagonal | "Flying kings" — slide multiple squares |
| Mandatory capture | Must jump (free choice which) | Must capture the maximum number of pieces |
See the full breakdown in our rules comparison. Other regional variants include Brazilian, Russian, and Turkish draughts.
Play Draughts Against a Friend
Want a human opponent instead of the computer? Switch to 2-player draughts and play a friend on the same device, taking turns as Red and Black — perfect for pass-and-play.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is draughts the same as checkers?
Yes — same game, different name. "Draughts" is British English; "checkers" is American English. This game uses standard 8×8 rules.
How do you play draughts online here?
You play red against the computer. Move diagonally forward, jump to capture (mandatory), and crown a king at the far row. No sign-up or download.
What is international draughts?
A larger variant on a 10×10 board with 20 pieces per side, flying kings, and a maximum-capture rule. The game here is the standard 8×8 version.
Can I play draughts with a friend?
Yes — use 2-player mode to play on one device.
