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Checker Board Positions
Checkers Strategy
The checker board shows how each playable square
is numbered sequentially starting from the
black players last row and continuing row for
row until the white players last row. A numbered
checker board is primarily used for annotating
(recording) and displaying checker board position
moves such as 11-15, which indicates that a
checker piece was moved from square 11 to square 15.
This then also means that the novice checker
player should understand game play and its
rules, checker terminology and how to annotate
each move as the ‘men’ are
moved from square to square. Understanding
the checker board positions and the concept
of notation is an elemental part of the checker
strategy game. There are many sources available
on annotation/notation, but here are some simple
diagrams as presented by the Danish Draughts
Federation that represent the concept of checker
board positions notation. There is also a complete
section on notation in this site for easy reference.
The following diagrams indicate the names
and subsequent strong and weak checker board
positions of some of the squares on a checkerboard.
Double Corner Squares Positions
This position is an important safe haven where
a crowned piece can move back and forth in
order to draw the checkers game.
Single Corner Square
Checkers Strategy
This square presents a very weak position because
of the limited mobility, even for crowned pieces.
The Dust Hole
A weak square on which to place a regular
piece, if white has a man placed on square
30, since the only legal move allows for capture
of the playing piece.
The Dog Hole Checker Position
A weak square to place a regular piece if
white has a checker placed on 32 because there
are no legal moves for the man from this position.
In a checkers game, another important strategic
concept to understand is the significance of
having the opposition, but of course, then
the question follows as to who has the opposition?
The diagram below shows that half the squares
are marked and these are only the ones in the
black player’s system, while the unmarked
are in the white player’s system.
The system squares are found by drawing a
line from the player’s baseline squares
straight down the board. Then the checker player
simply counts the remaining pieces on the board
and if there are an odd number of pieces in
his/her system on his/her turn, then this checker
board position has the opposition.
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