Checkers Kings, Compulsory Jumps & Multiple Capture Rules
English-draughts capture rules are stricter than many casual house rules.
Are jumps mandatory?
Yes. WCDF rules make all available captures compulsory.
Must you take the longest jump?
No. If two or more capturing routes are available, the player may choose any legal one; there is no obligation to maximize the number of captured pieces.
Must a multiple jump continue?
Yes. Once a capturing sequence begins, the same piece continues jumping while an immediate further capture is available.
Can an ordinary man capture backward?
No under WCDF English-draughts rules. An uncrowned man captures diagonally forward.
How do kings move and capture?
A king moves one square diagonally forward or backward and captures in either direction by jumping an adjacent opposing piece to the vacant square beyond.
What if a man reaches the king row during a jump?
It becomes a king, but that completes the turn. It does not continue jumping as a newly crowned king until after the opponent has moved.
Related guides
Complete checkers rules · Strategy · Game hub