Chinese Checkers
In Chinese Checkers you move your ten pieces to the opposite point of the star, one step or a whole chain of jumps. Free, no install, no sign-up.
Chinese Checkers is played on a six-pointed star of one hundred and twenty-one holes. Get all ten of your pieces across to the opposite point — you may jump, and jump again.
about 44.6 KB
Works offline after the first visit. No install, no sign-up.
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How to play Chinese Checkers
Two ways to move
A piece may step to an adjacent empty hole, one hole at a time. Or it may jump: over a single piece sitting immediately next to it, landing in the empty hole directly beyond. After landing, if it can jump again, it may keep going — a turn can cross the whole board. You may also stop part way; a jump chain is not a commitment.
Jumps need something to jump over
A jump needs a piece immediately next to the moving piece, and it needs the hole beyond that to be empty. Both, every time. You cannot jump over empty space, and you cannot land on top of a piece — including in the middle of a chain.
Jumps are straight lines only
Six directions, no turning mid-jump. Each hop crosses exactly one piece, and the landing hole is the same distance beyond it as the piece was in front of it.
The hole you left counts as empty
Once a piece has hopped out of its hole, that hole is empty for the rest of the chain — so a chain may loop back through where it started and carry on. This is what makes long chains possible, and it applies the same way when the game works out what you can reach.
Each point of the star holds ten holes
So ten pieces fill a point exactly. Both sides start with all ten of their pieces filling their own point, and the goal is to fill the opposite point — the two points are on opposite sides of the star, meeting in the middle.
You cannot move your opponent's pieces
Clicking one of their pieces does nothing. Clicking an empty hole with nothing selected also does nothing.
The board shows where a piece can go
Select one of your pieces and every hole it can reach — by a single step or by any length of jump chain — is highlighted before you commit.
Chinese Checkers Tips and Strategy
Build a chain to jump over
A jump needs a piece of yours sitting in the square next to the moving one, so pieces spaced apart cannot jump at all. Placing your pieces next to each other early gives you moves that cost a single step.
Keep the chain moving
After a jump you can carry on jumping if another piece is in range, and a long chain can cross most of the star in one turn. Because a chain is optional to continue, stopping part way is fine when nothing useful lies beyond.
Enter the target corner
Your pieces score by reaching the opposite point of the star, and the computer pushes its own pieces towards that corner with all it has. Occupying the corner holes and the route into them early keeps it from finishing ahead of you.
Chinese Checkers — Frequently Asked Questions
Can I jump over two pieces at once?
No. Every hop crosses exactly one piece. To cross two, that is two hops in a chain — which is allowed, as long as each landing hole is empty.
Do I have to finish a jump chain?
No. You can stop at any landing hole along the chain.
Why can I not jump over an empty hole?
A jump requires a piece immediately next to you to jump over. With nothing there, it is just an empty hole.
How does the computer play?
Greedily — it prefers moves that put a piece into its target point, then moves that bring pieces closer, and it slightly favours jumps over single steps.
Does it need installing or an account?
No. It runs in the browser on a phone, tablet or computer and works offline after the first visit.
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