How to Get a King in Checkers: Break Through
A man stuck behind your opponent's back row can't crown on its own: every square it could step to is filled. A breakthrough uses a forced jump to empty one of those squares.
Step 1 of 3
Pull the guard away
Watch. Your man on a7 is one step from crowning, but b8 is filled. Black plays b6 to c7. The guard on b8 must jump it, and lands on d6. Now b8 is empty, and a7 walks in and crowns. Black gave a man and got a king, which moves and jumps backwards as well as forwards.
Trade your way through
Your man on f6 faces White's back man on f8. This time you don't have to lose a man: give one, and win it straight back.
Your move
Get a man through to crown.
Find the way through
Your man on g7 is one step from crowning, but f8 and h8 are both filled. Find the breakthrough.
Your move
Crown a man.
What you learned
- A man behind a filled back row can't crown on its own.
- Give a man, or trade one, so that a guard has to jump off its square.
- A man for a king is often a good deal: a king moves and jumps both ways.
In this course
Unit 1The rules
Unit 2Tactics
- The Two-for-One Shot in Checkers
- Forced Captures in Checkers: Use Them as a Weapon
- Guard Your Back Row in Checkers: The Bridge
- How to Get a King in Checkers: Break Through
Take it to the table.
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