Seven lessons to observe, try and understand. Step through examples at your pace, then test what you have learned. Open any lesson. Free, with no account or payment.
Lesson 1 of 7
The board, the setup and the goal
Goal: Read the board and know where your 15 checkers start.
The board has 24 narrow triangles called "points", numbered 1 to 24 from your side. A central bar splits it in two.
Black outer board · 13–18Black home board · 19–24
White outer board · 7–12White home board · 1–6
Light checkers: White · Dark checkers: Black. Numbers from White’s side. Arrow: White’s route, 24 → 13, then 12 → 1. Black travels the opposite way.
Starting position. White: 2 checkers on point 24, 5 on 13, 3 on 8, 5 on 6. Black, mirrored: 2 on point 1, 5 on 12, 3 on 17, 5 on 19. White's home board (points 1 to 6) is highlighted at the bottom right.Read the position as text
White: 2 on 24. White: 5 on 13. White: 3 on 8. White: 5 on 6. Black: 2 on 1. Black: 5 on 12. Black: 3 on 17. Black: 5 on 19. Bar: 0 White, 0 Black.
Each player has 15 checkers. You play White: you move from point 24 down towards point 1. Your opponent moves the other way, from 1 up to 24.
The goal: bring all your checkers into your "home board" (points 1 to 6), then take them off the board. The first to bear off all 15 wins.
Home board
Your points 1 to 6, the last area before bearing off.
Example
Your two checkers on point 24 are the furthest back: they must travel the whole board before reaching home.
From setup to destination
At your pace: change views to observe the position.
View 1 / 3
Black outer board · 13–18Black home board · 19–24
White outer board · 7–12White home board · 1–6
Light checkers: White · Dark checkers: Black. Numbers from White’s side. Simplified position: only the checkers needed for this example are shown.
1 · Setup. Each side has 15 checkers: 2, 5, 3 and 5. Numbers here always use White’s perspective.Read the position as text
White: 2 on 24. White: 5 on 13. White: 3 on 8. White: 5 on 6. Black: 2 on 1. Black: 5 on 12. Black: 3 on 17. Black: 5 on 19. Bar: 0 White, 0 Black.
Your turn
Which way do White's checkers move?
Follow the decreasing numbers, not the triangle colours.
Put it into practice
Are the White checkers on 8 already in their home board?
Black outer board · 13–18Black home board · 19–24
White outer board · 7–12White home board · 1–6
Light checkers: White · Dark checkers: Black. Numbers from White’s side. Simplified position: only the checkers needed for this example are shown.
Point 8, outside home. Full starting setup. The three White checkers on 8 are marked; White’s home board starts at 6, across the bar.Read the position as text
White: 2 on 24. White: 5 on 13. White: 3 on 8. White: 5 on 6. Black: 2 on 1. Black: 5 on 12. Black: 3 on 17. Black: 5 on 19. Bar: 0 White, 0 Black.