Multi Function 2 In 1 Checkers
How to Play Chinese Checkers
1: Grab a Chinese Checkers Board and 2-6 players
All you need to get started is a Chinese Checkers board with 60 pegs and 2, 3, 4, or 6 players.
2: Set up the board with all 10 pegs in each players’ starting triangle
Regardless of the number of players, each player’s starting and destination triangles are always opposite each other, and all 10 of a player’s pegs begin in the starting triangle. Setups for different numbers of players are as follows:
- For 2 players, the starting area will be opposing triangles and each player’s destination/target triangle will be the other player’s starting triangle.
- For 3 players, the starting area will be every other triangle, so that each player has an empty triangle on either side of them. Each player’s destination triangle will be the empty triangle opposing them.
- For 4 players, the starting areas will be so that 2 players are next to each other, and the other two players oppose them. Each player’s destination triangle will oppose them, and will be the starting triangle of one of their opponents.
- For six players, all 6 triangles are used. A player’s destination triangle will be the one opposite their starting triangle.
3: Determine who goes first
There is a slight advantage in going first in Chinese Checkers, so you may want to use a fair method in decking who goes first, or give an advantage to a certain player (like letting the youngest player go first).. If you want to keep it fair, for 2 players we recommend one player putting a peg in a fist and then the other player guessing which hand has the peg in it. For 3 or more players, it depends on what you have handy: If you have a die, you can roll and the highest roll goes first, or you can draw slips of paper and only one has a star on it and that player goes first. But any method will work.
4: Play the first turn
On the first, and any turn, players can move 1 of their pegs:
- One spot in any of the 6 adjacent holes, as long as there is no peg currently occupying that spot
- Two spots, by jumping over another peg in an adjacent spot, into an open space directly behind it (no side jumping)
- 4+ spots, by jumping over another peg in an adjacent spot, into an open space directly behind it, then repeating the process for another jump from the spot they landed in. Players may change directions between jumps, including jumping backwards, as long as each individual jump is in a straight line.
5: Rotate play clockwise
Play rotates clockwise after the first turn (or alternates if only 2 players) and is played in the same fashion as the first player’s turn.
6: Continue playing and move pieces towards the destination triangle
As players work with the goal of reaching the destination triangle, the game is usually divided into three phases:
- Opening: Players begin to move pegs out of their starting triangles and attempt to set up opportunities to efficiently move pegs up the board.
- Middle: Pegs from multiple players are in the same area and players need to be thoughtful about strategies for jumping and blocking.
- Close: Players position their pegs in the destination triangle, and also work to not leave any pieces behind.
7: Declare a winner when one player has filled all the holes in their destination triangle
The game ends when one player has filled all of the spots in their destination triangle. Usually this occurs when all 10 of their pegs are in their destination triangle. However, the game also ends if the some of the spots are filled with opponents’ pegs, but all 10 spots are filled.
