Checkers vs. Chess — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Urooj Arif — Updated on April 2, 2024
A 2-player board game with uniform pieces aiming to capture or block opponent's pieces. While chess is a complex 2-player strategy game with unique pieces targeting the checkmate of the opponent's king.
Difference Between Checkers and Chess
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Checkers, also known as draughts, is played on an 8x8 board like chess, but only the dark squares are used. Each player starts with 12 pieces placed on the three closest rows. The game's objective is to capture all the opponent's pieces or block them so they cannot move. In contrast, chess is played with 16 pieces per player, including pawns, knights, bishops, rooks, a queen, and a king, each with specific movement patterns. The goal in chess is to put the opponent's king in a position where it is in check and cannot escape capture, known as checkmate.
The movement in checkers is simpler, with pieces moving diagonally forward on dark squares. When a piece reaches the farthest row from the player, it becomes a "king," gaining the ability to move and capture both forward and backward. Meanwhile, chess pieces have diverse movements: pawns move forward but capture diagonally, knights move in an L-shape, bishops diagonally, rooks straight along rows and columns, queens combine the moves of rooks and bishops, and kings move one square in any direction.
Checkers strategies are generally more straightforward, focusing on piece capture and positioning to force the opponent into a disadvantage. Chess strategies are more varied and complex, involving opening theories, middle-game tactics, and endgame strategies, with players needing to think several moves ahead due to the diversity of movement and capture possibilities.
The history of checkers dates back thousands of years, with versions played by the ancient Egyptians. Chess originated in India around the 6th century AD, evolving from the game Chaturanga. Both games have developed into many variants over the centuries, but chess is often regarded as more complex and has a more established competitive scene, including international championships and grandmaster titles.
While both games require strategic thinking and planning, chess demands a deeper understanding of strategy and tactics, with players studying established plays and competing in ranked matches and tournaments. Checkers, though competitive, is seen as more accessible and less demanding in terms of the breadth of strategies and memorization.
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Comparison Chart
Board Size
8x8, uses only dark squares
8x8, uses all squares
Pieces
Uniform pieces (12 per player)
Different pieces with unique movements (16 per player)
Objective
Capture or block all opponent's pieces
Checkmate the opponent's king
Piece Movement
Diagonally forward, kings move backward too
Diverse, based on piece type
Strategy Complexity
More straightforward
Highly complex and varied
Historical Origin
Ancient Egypt
6th century India
Compare with Definitions
Checkers
Played on dark squares of an 8x8 board.
The checkers game set up quickly, each starting with 12 pieces.
Chess
Features 16 unique pieces per player.
Setting up the chessboard involves arranging each player's 16 pieces.
Checkers
Aimed at capturing all opponent's pieces.
He won the checkers game by capturing all his opponent's pieces.
Chess
Goal is to checkmate the opponent's king.
The game ended with a clever move that checkmated the king.
Checkers
A board game of strategic moves and captures.
They played checkers in the park, focusing on advancing their pieces.
Chess
A complex strategy game with diverse pieces.
Chess requires careful planning and strategy to outmaneuver the opponent.
Checkers
Involves simple movements.
In checkers, pieces move diagonally to capture the opponent's.
Chess
Each piece has specific movements.
The knight's unique L-shaped move can jump over other pieces in chess.
Checkers
Known for "kinging" pieces for additional power.
Reaching the other side, her checker was kinged, gaining backward movement.
Chess
Includes a rich variety of strategies and openings.
He studied various chess openings to improve his game strategy.
Checkers
A game for two players played on a chessboard; the players have 12 pieces each, and the object is to capture all the opponent’s pieces by jumping over them. Other European varieties have larger boards and more playing pieces.
Chess
Chess is a recreational and competitive board game played between two players. It is sometimes called Western or international chess to distinguish it from related games such as xiangqi.
Checkers
A game, called also draughts, played on a checkerboard by two persons, each having twelve men (counters or checkers) which are moved diagonally. The game is ended when either of the players has lost all his men, or can not move them.
Chess
A board game of strategic skill for two players, played on a chequered board on which each playing piece is moved according to precise rules. The object is to put the opponent's king under a direct attack from which escape is impossible (checkmate).
Checkers
A checkerboard game for two players who each have 12 pieces; the object is to jump over and so capture the opponent's pieces
Chess
A board game for two players, each beginning with 16 pieces of six kinds that are moved according to individual rules, with the objective of checkmating the opposing king.
Chess
Any of several species of brome, especially Bromus secalinus.
Chess
One of the floorboards of a pontoon bridge.
Chess
A board game for two players, each beginning with sixteen chess pieces moving according to fixed rules across a chessboard with the objective to checkmate the opposing king.
Chess
Any of several species of grass in the genus Bromus, generally considered weeds.
Chess
One of the platforms, consisting of two or more planks dowelled together, for the flooring of a temporary military bridge.
Chess
A game played on a chessboard, by two persons, with two differently colored sets of men, sixteen in each set. Each player has a king, a queen, two bishops, two knights, two castles or rooks, and eight pawns.
Chess
A species of brome grass (Bromus secalinus) which is a troublesome weed in wheat fields, and is often erroneously regarded as degenerate or changed wheat; it bears a very slight resemblance to oats, and if reaped and ground up with wheat, so as to be used for food, is said to produce narcotic effects; - called also cheat and Willard's bromus.
Chess
Weedy annual native to Europe but widely distributed as a weed especially in wheat
Chess
A game for two players who move their 16 pieces according to specific rules; the object is to checkmate the opponent's king
Common Curiosities
What is the main goal in checkers and chess?
In checkers, the goal is to capture or block all of the opponent's pieces. In chess, the objective is to checkmate the opponent's king.
What is the significance of the board's squares in both games?
In checkers, only the dark squares are used for play, while in chess, the entire board's squares are utilized, reflecting the games' different rules and strategies.
Can all pieces move backward in checkers and chess?
In checkers, only kinged pieces can move backward. In chess, specific pieces like the king, queen, and bishops can move backward depending on their movement rules.
What makes chess more complex than checkers?
Chess's complexity comes from the variety of pieces with unique movements, the depth of strategy required, including opening theories, and the ultimate goal of checkmating the king.
Can playing checkers and chess lead to a professional career?
While both can be played professionally, chess offers a more established path with recognized titles, rankings, and a global competitive scene.
Are there international competitions for checkers and chess?
Yes, both games have competitive scenes, but chess has a more developed international competition framework, including world championships and grandmaster titles.
How does a piece become a king in checkers?
A piece becomes a king in checkers when it reaches the farthest row from the player on the board.
How long have checkers and chess been played?
Checkers dates back thousands of years to ancient civilizations, while chess originated in India around the 6th century AD.
Do checkers and chess improve cognitive skills?
Yes, both games enhance cognitive skills such as strategic thinking, problem-solving, and planning.
Can beginners easily learn checkers and chess?
Checkers is generally easier for beginners to learn due to its simpler rules and objectives, whereas chess requires understanding complex strategies and movements.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
