Checkers Puzzle for 23 October 2026 — Black to move

The idea

A multi-jump lets one piece capture several opponents in a single turn. Follow every landing square before choosing the first jump: removing a piece can open a new diagonal or make a backward capture available. Men may capture backward, and flying kings may have several landing choices beyond an enemy piece. A capture must continue while another jump is available, except that crowning ends the turn. You may choose among legal branches; you do not have to take the branch with the most captures. Compare the complete routes, the pieces removed and the safety of the final square.

Black to move. Black has 3 men and 2 kings on 1, 4, 21, 26 and 32 (kings on 1 and 4); Red has 5 men and a king on 3, 9, 11, 12, 20 and 29 (king on 29). Black has 2 fewer men and 1 more king than Red. Red has a man in Black's half against 0 coming the other way. Black has 4 legal full turns to compare: 4 capture lines and 0 quiet choices. A capture chain is one turn, even when the piece changes direction. Look at its final landing square before committing to the first jump.

Solution: 4x18x5. Black jumps 4x18x5, removing the men on 11 and 9. After this combination, Black has 3 men and 2 kings and Red has 3 men and a king. The game continues from this position. One continuation from the search is 29-11 32-27 3-8 21-17 12-16 17-13 8-12 27-24 20x27 5x32.

Alternative 4x15: one sample line is 4x15 29x11 21-17. Black's 4x15 removes the man on 11. Red's 29x11 removes the king on 15. The board then has 3 men and a king for Black and 4 men and a king for Red. Alternative 4x22: one sample line is 4x22 29x11 21-17. Black's 4x22 removes the man on 11. Red's 29x11 removes the king on 22. The board then has 3 men and a king for Black and 4 men and a king for Red. Compare these sample lines with the solution and check other legal replies before judging the resulting position.

Play a real game