Hard Pool checkers
Hard Pool checkers is a deeper search on the same American Pool rules as Pool checkers. A larger budget, not master play, and not a different game.
Kings still fly. Men still jump backward. Promotion still continues the turn.
Pool rules against Hard
Capture every opposing piece, or block the other side so it cannot move. Same 8×8 start as American checkers, with Pool movement rules.
- Men may jump forward or backward.
- Kings fly along open diagonals and may land any empty square beyond a capture.
- A man that promotes mid-jump continues as a king if another jump is available.
Hard Pool search depth
The Hard opponent searches with alpha-beta depth about 5 and the same capture extensions as Medium.
The evaluation understands flying kings and backward jumps; difficulty only changes how far ahead it looks.
It plans further ahead than Medium, but it is still a fixed-depth engine — not a master program.
Deep Pool jump lines
Calculate king flights together
Hard compares several landing squares on the same diagonal. Before you move, check every empty square beyond the target — not just the nearest landing.
Backward jump combinations
Pool tactics often run backward then forward in one turn. Hard searches five plies; rehearse the full multi-jump before you click.
Endgame with few pieces
When the board opens up, flying kings dominate. Hard will chase loose men — keep kings paired so one covers the other’s retreat diagonal.
Pool checkers difficulty levels compared
| Level | Best for | Search | Typical gap | Practice focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | Learning flying kings and backward jumps | alpha-beta depth ≈ 1 (no quiescence) | Underestimates how far a king can land after a capture | Finish the whole jump line before you stop the turn |
| Medium | Comfortable Pool players | alpha-beta depth ≈ 3 (with quiescence on captures) | Misses some multi-jump promotions; shorter king endgames | Choose landing squares that keep the king jumping |
| Hard (this page) | Sharp tactical Pool games | alpha-beta depth ≈ 5 (with quiescence on captures) | Still bounded search — not professional Pool strength | Calculate backward jumps and king flights together |
Need a refresher on the basics? Read the complete Pool Checkers guide and rules on Checkerso for backward capture details, flying king landings, and promote-and-continue chains.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hard Pool checkers the strongest setting on Checkerso?
It is the deepest search offered for Pool — about five plies with capture extensions. It is still a fixed-depth browser engine.
Does Hard play perfect Pool checkers?
No. It is stronger than Easy and Medium here, but it is not tuned to professional American Pool play.
Why did my turn end after promotion?
The turn ends when no further jump is available for the king. If you had another capture, the game should let you continue — double-check the line on Hard before you commit.