Make Your Own Checkers Puzzle for Kids
Make a forced-jump checkers puzzle for a friend. Pick the finishing jump first, place only the pieces you need, then check that exactly one move reaches your goal. Remember: in checkers, if a jump is available you must take it.
Make your puzzle in four steps
- Choose the answer first: the jump or jump chain that wins, such as two pieces in one turn or a crown.
- Place only the pieces you need. Every piece goes on a dark, numbered square.
- Jumping is compulsory, so list every jump the mover has, and follow each chain until it stops.
- If two different jumps both reach the goal, move or add a piece until only your answer does.
Red moves up the board and Black moves down. Write R for a red piece and B for a black piece, and draw a crown or write K next to a king. Write moves with square numbers: 22-18 for a step, 26x17x10 for a double jump.
One made-up example
Goal: Red to move and capture two black pieces in one turn.
In the draft, Red has two jumps that each capture two pieces: 26x17x10 and 26x19x12. A friend could pick either one, so the puzzle has two answers.
A black piece on 12 fills the landing square of the right-hand chain. Now 26x19 captures only one piece and must stop, and the only double jump is 26x17x10.
Both positions are made up for this page and checked with the same move rules the checkers puzzles use. They are not published puzzles.
My checkers puzzle
Puzzle by:
Who moves first:
Goal:
- ☐ Every piece is on a dark square
- ☐ I listed every jump the mover has
- ☐ Only one move reaches the goal
Fold behind along the dashed line so your friend cannot see the answer.
Answer
Winning move (square numbers):
Why the other jumps do not reach the goal:
Learn the forced-capture rule in the beginner checkers puzzle guide, follow a two-jump turn on the jump-chain notes sheet, or browse all checkers puzzles.