For many people online, checkers is just a bit of fun, but if you’re serious about it, then learning how to become better is a rewarding experience. Of course, as with anything, you need to learn it in the proper way. You need to understand what works, what the most successful players do to win, and then emulate it in your own gaming. So, how can you become a master at checkers?
Get the fundamentals right
As with anything, you want to get the fundamentals right. Understanding how the game actually works provides you with the context you need to excel when you eventually come to play human players or robot opponents.
For example, you want to understand rules like diagonal moves and mandatory captures. These are useful when you’re playing in competitive matches. Multi jumps and kinging are also worth understanding. One of the biggest advantages in checkers is reaching the opposite row so that you can get pieces that offer backward movement. These can then take the opponent’s pieces from behind, making it more difficult for them to get kings.
You should be able to find plenty of online platforms offering checkers tutorials. These are extremely helpful for running through the basics and giving you all the information you need before you jump into multi-player versions.
Try to control the center
If you watch top checkers players, it’s one of the first things they do in any match – try to control the centre. They look for control over squares E4, D4, E5, and D5.
Controlling the center is useful in checkers because it allows you to move pieces in more directions, especially when you are beginning the game. In most games, you only have a choice of two directions: left or diagonally left or diagonally right. However, pieces at the edge can only move in one direction functionally. That’s diagonally left or right depending on where the edge is.
Because of this, you want to focus on the middle of the board. If you can think of your pieces acting together as a spear, you want to penetrate this part of the board so you can then spread out and attack your opponent from more directions. It simply gives you more options. Of course, achieving dominance over the center will sometimes require you to lose a few pieces, but often it’s worth it, and you can make back these losses and more once you gain control.
Keep pieces in tight formation
Another thing you’ll want to do related to the last point is keep your pieces in tight formation. Don’t try to make solo advances unless you see an opportunity to take many of your opponent’s pieces in one move. Supporting pieces prevents your front line pieces from being jumped. This is why many pros adopt a pyramid attack structure, these are very hard to break down when done correctly.
In checkers, one of the main goals is to protect your diagonal lines. If you can keep these safe, then you can block as well as threaten. You can also take your time and only move pieces when it’s advantageous to you, luring your opponent into a disadvantageous position.
Hold back row in place
You also want to hold your back row in place. This is one of the most effective ways to block opponents from acquiring Kings. Our advice is not to advance your rear pieces early when playing checkers online, instead reserve them at the back for the endgame. Once they’re on the back squares, your opponent can’t take them because there’s no square to jump into. They can sit there for as long as you want or until an opportunity to take your opponent’s pieces emerges.
Many players see holding the back row as antisocial, but it’s a key tactic, especially if you’re on the back foot. If the other player is winning, you need a last line of defense to prevent them from kinging.
Prioritize kinging
Speaking of which, it’s commonly accepted these days that players should prioritize kinging over other tactics like taking enemy pieces. While removing enemy pieces from the board might seem like a good way to prevent them from kinging, it’s often far more effective to king first and then take enemy pieces on the way back down the board.
This is something that you also see in chess games. Many players prioritize taking their pawns to the other players’ back row because it means that they can get their queen or other high-value pieces back. This strategy is often more important than simply taking the enemy’s pieces, especially at the end of the game when the idea is to get a checkmate.
Only trade one for one if it benefits you
Another sound piece of advice is to only trade one-for-one if it benefits you. A lot of players will assume that taking an enemy piece is worth it, even if their own piece is taken in the process. However, when you think about it, this doesn’t really make sense. If the final position of the board after both pieces have been taken is beneficial to your opponent, then you’ve actually lost ground.
The best way to make even trades is when you gain position or you can king. Therefore, think about how the moves will ultimately play out once they’re complete. If the trade doesn’t put you at an advantage, think of a different move.
Set traps and forced jumps
Finally, it’s a good idea to set traps in the game of checkers. If you can cause your opponent to sacrifice pieces or force jumps, then it can be highly effective. Remember a lot of players aren’t sophisticated, so patience in this regard wins. Many opponents will see an opportunity to take one of your pieces and won’t realize how it could adversely affect their own position and chances of winning.
So there you have it, which of these strategies are you going to use to become 10x better at online checkers?
