How to Play Chinese Checkers | Complete Guide to Rules & More
What is Chinese Checkers
Chinese Checkers is a classic board game of strategy played on a 6-point star-shaped board. Players attempt to move all 10 of their pieces, called “pegs,” across the board from their starting triangle to their destination triangle, before their opponents. Players can move their pegs one at a time, or jump over single pegs for one or several sequenced hops. Chinese checkers is a great family game of strategy for all ages!
Objective of Chinese Checkers
Move all 10 of your pieces, called “pegs,” across the board from your starting triangle to your destination triangle, before your opponent.
Number of Players
Chinese checkers can be played with 2, 3, 4, or 6 players. The setup of the game will be slightly different depending on the number of players.
Game Length / Playing Time
A two player game of Chinese Checkers typically takes 10-30 minutes, depending on the strategies used. Adding players will slightly increase the length of the game.
Equipment
All you need to to play a Game of Chinese Checkers is the 6-sided star-shaped board, and the 60 pegs that go with it.
Age
Chinese Checkers is a great game for all ages 6 and up. There is no math or reading involved, only simple moves and strategy.
Skills
- Strategy: Chinese checkers is a game of strategy and players can improve to become better players of the game.
- Social Skills: Players learn important skills like taking turns, following rules, and communicating with other players.
- Fine Motor Skills: Players will manipulate the pegs and place them in a new spot each time, which requires hand eye coordination and fine motor skills.
Why we like Chinese Checkers for kids and families
Chinese Checkers is a classic strategy family board game for a reason. While it requires strategy, the rules are easy to understand and the game is simple enough for children to play. It’s fun to watch children learn the game and improve as players.
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.
Chinese Checkers Video Tutorial
Chinese Checkers Rules
- Players can move a single one of their pegs into any open, adjacent space (6 possible directions)
- Players may jump over a single, adjacent peg and land in an empty space directly behind it. That means you can’t jump over 2 pegs. And you can’t jump over a peg and land in an empty space to the side of it.
- Players may perform multiple jumps, including changing directions between jumps (although each jump must still be straight to an empty spot directly behind the jumped peg.
- You can move through someone else’s triangle in it, but you can’t land and stay in it. You must be able to hop out of it.
- Once you’ve moved a peg into your destination triangle, you can’t move back out of it, although can move within it
- If a peg (or pegs) from another player’s starting triangle is in your destination triangle, the game ends when all the 10 spots are full, regardless if some of them are their pegs. You don’t have to wait for them to move out. You don’t have to swap your pegs for theirs.
- No pegs are ever removed from the board.
Chinese Checkers FAQs
What is Chinese Checkers?
Chinese Checkers is a strategy board game where players attempt to move their 10 pieces across the board before their opponent does.
Who invented Chinese Checkers?
Chinese Checkers is a variation of an American game called Halma. The game variation as we know it was invented in Germany in 1892 under the name “Stern-Halma” because of the star shaped board (“Stern” means “star” in German). The name “Chinese Checkers” was created in 1928 by Jack and Bill Pressman as a marketing tactic.
Why is it called Chinese Checkers?
Ironically, the game Chinese Checkers neither originated in China, nor is it a form of checkers. The name was chosen as a marketing tactic by Jack and Bill Pressman in 1928. The game originated from an American game called Halma, then the variation we know with the star-shaped board was created in Germany.
What else is Chinese Checkers called?
Chinese Checkers was originally a variation of the American game “Halma,” created in Germany and called “Stern-Halma” for its star-shaped board. Jack and Bill Pressman brought that back to the United States under the name “Hop Ching Checkers,” but then Jack and Bill changed the name to “Chinese Checkers” as a marketing tactic. The game is also know as “tiaqi” in China.
How old is Chinese Checkers?
The variation of Chinese Checkers as we know it was invented in Germany in 1892 and was called “Stern-Halma.” It was based on an American game called “Halma” with “stern” being the german word for “star” for the star-shaped board of this variation. It wasn’t until 1928 that it was marketed under the name “Chinese Checkers.”
In which country was the game Chinese Checkers invented?
Chinese Checkers was created in 1892 Germany, not China, but was originally called “Stern-Halma.” Ironically, it neither has a Chinese origin, nor is it a form of checkers. In fact, it is based on an American game called “Halma” and the variation as we know it with the star-shaped board had the “Stern” placed in front of it because “stern” is the German word for “star.” IIt wasn’t until 1928 that it was renamed “Chinese Checkers” for marketing purposes.
How many people can play chinese checkers?
Chinese Checkers can be played with 2, 3, 4, or 6 players. The rules are the same for all player numbers, but the setup of the board is slightly different for each.
How to set up Chinese Checkers?
Chinese checkers is always set up with each player’s 10 pieces, called “pegs,” in the 10 spots in their starting triangle, with the goal of getting to the destination triangle directly opposite their starting triangle. The exact setup for 2, 3, 4, and 6 player variations is explained in this article.
How to play chinese checkers with 2 players
Chinese Checkers is most commonly played as a two player game. The rules are exactly the same for all numbers of players, with the only difference being that the 2 players start on opposite sides of the board. And each player’s starting triangle is the other player’s destination triangle. All other triangles are empty.
How to play chinese checkers with 3 players?
In the 3 player version of Chinese Checkers, the rules are exactly the same for all numbers of players, with the only difference being that the 3 players must play with an empty starting triangle between each player and the destination triangle for each player starts empty.
How many pieces / pegs / marbles in chinese checkers?
A Chinese checkers game comes with 60 pieces, called pegs, even though they are often marbles. Each player has 10 pegs. In variations with fewer than 6 players, the additional pegs should be removed.
Can Chinese Checkers end in a draw?
No. Chinese Checkers will never end in a tie. The first player to occupy all 10 spots in their destination triangle wills.
Note: Some, uncommon, house rules allow for the round to finish after the first player fills their destination triangle and this makes a draw a possibility. This would occur if the first (or early round) player fills all 10 spots, and then a player later in the round fills their 10 spots in the next turn.
How do you win at Chinese Checkers?
Here are 6 winning strategies you can use in the opening, middle, and closing of a Chinese Checkers game.
Opening:
1: Set up good opening moves: The opening moves are an opportunity to set up the board for efficient hopping moves. The the “sidewinder” or “cross caterpillar” are popular opening moves.
2: Plan ahead: You really should be planning ahead throughout all 3 phases of the game. Look for opportunities to create or take multiple jumps. Defensively, avoid allowing your opponent long multi-jump moves and consider using blockers to prevent it.
Middle
3: Aim for the middle: The more you keep your pieces in the middle of the board, the better chance you have of multi-jump moves and the less likely you are to strand individual pieces.
4: Set up and take multi-jumps: On offense, one of the best strategies is to set up multi-jump moves and take them when you have them.
5: Think defense: Don’t leave big jumping opportunities for your opponent. Consider clustering multiple pieces together as blockers.
Closing
6: No man left behind: Don’t leave pieces stranded at the end. It’s a slow slog to hop a single piece all the way up the board. Two pieces move much more efficiently!
