Variations
What prints with the starting settings
| Paper | US Letter — 215.9 × 279.4 mm (8.5 × 11 in) |
|---|---|
| Board | 8 × 8 squares |
| Board size on this page | about 19 cm square |
| Margins | 1/2″ |
| Line weight | 0.18 mm (bold 0.35 mm) |
| Print setting | Scale 100% / Actual size |
The simplest board game to print
Checkers needs only a board and 24 counters in two colours, which makes it the easiest classic game to put together from things at home. This page fills a sheet of Letter or A4 with an 8 × 8 board; laminate it or glue it to card for a board that lasts.
Quick rules
- Pieces move one square diagonally forward onto empty dark squares.
- Capture by jumping over an opponent’s piece into the empty square beyond; several jumps can be chained in one turn.
- A piece reaching the far row becomes a king (stack a second piece on top) and can move backwards too.
- In most rule sets, captures are compulsory.
Making counters
Cut 24 circles from two colours of card, use coins of two values, or collect bottle caps. Pieces up to about 22 mm across sit inside the squares neatly.
More boards
The 10 × 10 variation is for international draughts. For chess with coordinates, see the chess board, and for Go, the Go boards.
Printing
Print at 100% / Actual size. Grey squares save colour ink; any shade prints well in black and white.
More chess & go boards sheets
Frequently asked questions
How big are the squares?
About 24 mm on an 8 × 8 board, so standard checkers pieces (about 3 cm) overhang slightly. Coins, buttons or bottle caps fit well.
Which squares do the pieces go on?
The dark squares. Each player places 12 pieces on the dark squares of the three rows nearest them, with a dark square at each player's bottom-left corner.
What is international draughts?
A version played on a 10 × 10 board with 20 pieces each, in which men can capture backwards and kings move any distance along a diagonal.
Can I use it as a chessboard?
Yes, it is the same 8 × 8 pattern. The chess board adds coordinates for notation.
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