If any of your pieces can capture, you are required to make a capture rather than a quiet move. You do not get to ignore a jump just because it looks bad.
Is capturing mandatory in checkers?
Quick answer: Yes, in standard checkers capturing is mandatory; if a legal jump is available on your turn you must take it, and once a jump begins you continue as long as more jumps are possible.
The forced capture rule is one of the most important ideas in checkers because it turns simple jumps into powerful traps.
You must jump
Multiple jumps continue
When your landing square allows another jump, you must keep jumping with the same piece until no more captures are available. A single turn can sweep several enemy pieces off the board.
A tactical weapon
Because jumps are forced, skilled players offer a piece as bait, knowing the opponent must take it and then walk into a bigger capture. This is the heart of checkers tactics.
Ready to put it into practice?
See the glossary of terms