Checkers against the computer: play free
Start a game against the computer in one click: pick a rule set and a bot level. The novice plays half its moves at random, the amateur looks four moves ahead, and the master searches for up to 900 milliseconds. Here is how each level plays and how to beat it.
The bot follows the same rules as a human. Nothing needs to be installed.
The short answer: start with the novice level and Russian checkers. A game takes five to ten minutes, the rules explain themselves as you play, and a loss does not make you want to stop. When the novice becomes predictable, move up to the amateur, then to the master.
Below is what actually happens inside a game: how the three levels are built, what hints and undo do, how puzzles differ from the tournament, and why you can play all nine rule sets against the computer, not just the classic one.
Three bot levels
You pick the level before the game. The difference is not that the bot lets you win or cheats: all three follow the same rules and see only the board. The difference is how deep they search and how often they make a mistake.
| Level | How it plays | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Novice | Half its moves are random, half look one move ahead, and it does not check for a counter-capture | A first game, a child, learning the rules |
| Amateur | Searches four moves ahead, but its evaluation is noisy and in eight moves out of a hundred it picks a move outside the best three | Players who know the rules and want resistance |
| Master | Searches for up to 900 milliseconds per move and makes the fewest mistakes | Experienced players, practice and post-game analysis |
The novice is not pretending to be weak: it genuinely does not calculate the reply. The amateur already punishes a hung piece, but does not turn every mistake into a win. The master uses whatever time it has, so in a sharp position its move can differ from one game to the next.
How to start a game
- Open the game and choose "Play the computer".
- Pick a rule set. Russian checkers are the best choice for a first game.
- Pick a level: novice, amateur or master.
- Move by clicking: select a piece, then a highlighted square. On a desktop you can also drag a piece or use the arrow keys and Enter.
Nothing needs to be installed: the game runs in a browser on a phone, tablet or computer. An account is optional, progress is saved in the browser, and signing in with Yandex ID or VK ID keeps it across devices.
Novice: the first game
The novice plays differently from game to game: half its moves are chosen at random, half are judged one move ahead. It does not check whether you can capture back. A game against it feels like playing someone who learned the rules yesterday: it sees its own capture, not yours.
What works:
- do not hang a piece for no reason, even when a capture looks tempting;
- take free captures and walk your pieces to the last row;
- in giveaway checkers its greed works for you: it grabs your pieces, which is exactly what you want;
- if a game goes badly, use a hint: it suggests the move the master would play.
Amateur: four moves ahead
The amateur searches four moves ahead, but its evaluation is approximate: scores have noise, and in eight moves out of a hundred it chooses a move outside the best three. That is enough to punish a hung piece and not enough to win every game.
What works:
- create two threats at once. Four moves ahead is enough to see one, not always enough to connect both;
- trade into a simple position with fewer pieces: that is where an approximate evaluation slips more often;
- do not give up a king for two pieces without calculating: the amateur knows how to convert material;
- open the post-game analysis: it marks the best move, inaccuracies and blunders.
Master: almost no free pieces
The master searches for up to 900 milliseconds per move. In a quiet position that means it sees tactics several moves deep; in a sharp one it spends all the time it has. Do not wait for a gift.
What works:
- play for a hold: trade pieces, reduce the number of active men and do not open lines without a reason;
- look for a position with no clear plan rather than a quick win: in less familiar rule sets it happens more often;
- in Wolf and Sheep the master plays the sheep by an exact solution, so the wolf has few chances against it;
- analyse the game afterwards. The review shows where you lost a draw or a win better than any general tip.
Hints, undo and rating
A hint searches the way the master does, for up to 1.2 seconds. It is available against the computer and in a two-player game on one screen; online games give hints to neither player.
Free hints are limited: one for a win against the computer, three more for a short video, and a daily gift in puzzles. Unlimited hints are a one-time purchase in the shop.
Undo is available, but a game with undo does not count for the rating. The rating lives on your device and only counts free games against the computer with no hints and no undo. Medals count games against the computer, except wins online.
Eighty puzzles and ten lessons
Puzzles are a separate mode: the position is already set, and you find the winning move, sometimes two or three in a row. There are eighty puzzles, from one move to three, plus a puzzle of the day that is the same for everyone.
The school is ten short lessons: how a man moves, how to capture, how a man becomes a king, what Towers and giveaway checkers are. Lessons nine and ten send you to puzzles and the tournament, because after that comes practice.
Nine rule sets
All nine rule sets in the game work against the computer: Russian checkers, Towers, giveaway checkers, English, Brazilian, international on a 100-square board, Canadian on 144 squares, Wolf and Sheep, and Corners.
Which one to choose:
- Russian checkers for a first game: the rules are the simplest and the bot plays them best;
- Towers when you want unusual tactics: a captured piece does not leave the board, it goes under the piece that took it;
- giveaway checkers when normal checkers feel stale: the first player to give away all their pieces wins;
- Wolf and Sheep or Corners for a game with no captures and a different goal.
The courtyard tournament
If one game is not enough, there is the courtyard tournament: twelve neighbours with faces and characters, knockout cups and a daily game. The opponents are the same bots, but a match runs to two points, and one and a half is enough against the master. Every round pays a reward. The tournament is handy because you do not pick a level each time: difficulty rises with the rounds.
From the bot to a human opponent
A bot does not replace a person: it does not take its time, joke or get tired. But it lets you start a game at any hour and in any mood.
When you want a human, there are two ways: matchmaking by the chosen rules, or a room for a friend. Send the room as a link, a six-character code or a QR code, and your friend sits down without extra clicks. There is also a two-player game on one screen when you are in the same room.
Read next
- Checkers rules: how to move and capture: the setup, forced captures and kings with examples.
- Checkers tactics and openings: what to do at the start and how to win pieces.
- Types of checkers: how Russian differs from international, giveaway and Towers.
- Checkers or chess: the entry threshold and game length compared.
- What to play with two players: when you want a person, not the computer.
Common questions
Can I play checkers against the computer without installing anything?
Yes. The game runs in a browser on a phone, tablet or computer. There is nothing to download or install.
How many bot levels are there?
Three: novice, amateur and master. You choose a level before the game and can start a new game at another level after the finish.
Does a game with hints count for the rating?
No. The rating only counts games against the computer with no hints and no undo. Online games do not count either.
Can I undo a move?
Yes, undo is available against the computer. A game with undo does not count for the rating, so play without it if you care about the rating.
How do I get more hints?
You get one hint for a win against the computer, three for a short video, and there is a daily gift in puzzles. Unlimited hints are a one-time purchase in the shop.
Can I play with a friend?
Yes. Invite a friend to a room by link, code or QR code, use matchmaking for the chosen rules, or play together on one screen.
Which rule sets work against the computer?
All nine: Russian, Towers, giveaway, English, Brazilian, international, Canadian, Wolf and Sheep, and Corners.
Does the game work on a phone?
Yes. The board fits the screen and you can move by tap or drag. On a desktop you can also use the arrow keys and Enter.