Easy American checkers
Easy American checkers is the classic 8×8 game against a shallow computer. The rules match American checkers: forced jumps, short kings, promotion ends the turn.
Only the opponent changes. Medium and Hard use the same rules with deeper search.
American checkers in Easy mode
Leave the other side with no pieces, or no legal move. Men move diagonally forward; kings move one square diagonally. If you can jump, you must.
- Men do not move or jump backward.
- Promotion to king ends the turn — no continuing as a king that same jump.
- You may choose any legal jump line; longest capture is not required.
What the Easy opponent sees
The Easy opponent looks one move ahead. It plays the move that looks best right now, never checks your reply, and does not follow a trade any further.
It prefers positions where it has more pieces and more moves available.
It will miss tactics that need two or more full turns to set up.
Simple plans that beat Easy
Hold the center early
Pieces on the four center dark squares see more jump directions. Against Easy, a simple central threat often wins material because the computer does not calculate your reply.
Set up double jumps
When you have a choice of jump lines, look for a sequence that removes two enemy pieces. Easy rarely sees the recapture that follows its first jump.
Keep one man on the back rank
A piece on your home row stops an enemy man from promoting for free. You do not need a wall — one defender buys time while you attack.
American checkers difficulty levels compared
| Level | Best for | How far it looks | Typical gap | Practice focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy (this page) | Learning forced jumps and king promotion | 1 move ahead (its own; never your reply) | Never checks your reply, so it often leaves a man you can jump | Open from the center and set up simple two-for-one jumps |
| Medium | Regular play and steady improvement | 3 moves ahead; follows jump sequences to the end | Spots obvious one-move blunders; shorter endgame plans | Trade when ahead; keep the back rank intact longer |
| Hard | Players who want more calculation | 5 moves ahead; follows jump sequences to the end | Stops at five moves ahead, so it is not master strength | Work through forced jump lines before you touch a piece |
Need a refresher on the basics? Read the complete American Checkers guide and rules on Checkerso for full movement rules, mandatory jump requirements, and board FAQs.
Frequently asked questions
Does Easy American checkers use different rules?
No. Board, forced jumps, and king movement are the same as on the main American checkers page. Only how far ahead the computer looks is different: it looks one move ahead.
Why must I jump on Easy if the computer is weak?
Capturing is mandatory in American checkers at every difficulty. Easy simply does not look as far ahead when it chooses among legal jumps.
When should I move up to Medium?
Try Medium once you win most Easy games without blundering a piece. Medium looks three moves ahead and follows jump sequences to the end.