Checkers Setup: How to Set Up the Board and Pieces
Updated 2026-11-11
Checkers setup is quick: give each player 12 pieces, put them on the dark squares of the three rows nearest them, and leave the two middle rows empty. That is the whole layout for standard American checkers (called English draughts in Britain). The rest of this page covers the one detail people get wrong, which way to turn the board, plus how many pieces other versions use.
What you need
- A checkers board: an 8 by 8 grid of alternating dark and light squares, 64 squares in all. Only the 32 dark squares are used.
- 24 checkers in total: 12 for each player, one colour per player. Red and white are traditional, and black and red are common in the US.
If you only have a chess set, the board is the same size, so you can use it. Use coins or buttons for the pieces if you need to, as long as each player has a different kind.
Checkers pieces: how many are there?
| Version | Board | Pieces per player |
|---|---|---|
| American checkers (English draughts) | 8 by 8 | 12 |
| Russian and Brazilian draughts | 8 by 8 | 12 |
| International draughts | 10 by 10 | 20 |
| Canadian checkers | 12 by 12 | 30 |
| Turkish draughts | 8 by 8 | 16 |
So the answer to "how many pieces in checkers" is 12 per player, 24 in total for the standard game most people play.
Checkers board setup, step by step
- Place the board between the players. Turn it so that each player has a light square in the near right-hand corner. The dark square is then at the near left corner.
- Give each player a colour. The player with the darker pieces moves first.
- Fill the first row. Put 4 pieces on the dark squares of the row closest to you.
- Fill the second and third rows. Put 4 more on each of the next two rows, always on dark squares. That makes 12 pieces, in three rows of four.
- Check the middle. The two rows in the middle of the board stay empty. Your opponent mirrors your layout from the other side.
A quick check: no piece should sit on a light square, and your near right-hand corner should be light. If it is dark, turn the board 90 degrees.
The row nearest you
The row closest to you is called your king row (also the crownhead). It is the row your opponent must reach to crown one of their men. Many players keep some of these pieces at home as defenders. For how to use them, see checkers strategy.
After the setup
The darker side moves first and you alternate turns. A piece moves one square diagonally forward onto an empty dark square, and jumps over an opponent's piece to capture it. If a jump is available, you must take it. A man that reaches the far row becomes a king. Read the full rules in how to play checkers.
Setup in Turkish draughts
Turkish draughts is a different game. The board is 8 by 8, each player has 16 pieces, and they go on the second and third rows from the player's side. Pieces move straight, forwards or sideways, instead of diagonally. You can try it in Turkish Draughts, which lets you play against the computer, against another person on the same device, or online.
Skip the setup: play checkers online
A browser game puts the pieces out for you:
- Master Checkers is played in its Italian version. You can face the computer, a local player or opponents online.
- Master Checkers Multiplayer has a multiplayer mode, a computer mode and a same-device mode.
- Classic Checkers: Forest follows the classic rules with a 2 player mode and an AI opponent.
The steps above are for American checkers, so follow them for a real board even if you practise online.
For more, see chess vs checkers and the checkers terms used in the game.
FAQ
- How do you set up a checkers board?
- Turn the board so each player has a light square in the near right corner. Each player puts 12 pieces on the dark squares of the three rows closest to them, leaving the two middle rows empty.
- How many pieces are in checkers?
- 12 per player and 24 in total in standard American checkers on an 8 by 8 board.
- Which squares do checkers go on?
- Only the dark squares. Each player fills the dark squares of the first three rows on their side.
- Who goes first in checkers?
- The player with the darker pieces moves first, and then you take turns.
- How many squares are on a checkers board?
- 64 squares in an 8 by 8 grid, of which 32 dark squares are used.
- Can I use a chess board for checkers?
- Yes. A chess board is the same 8 by 8 size. Use the dark squares only.
- How many pieces are in international draughts?
- 20 per player on a 10 by 10 board.
