Chinese checkers at a glance
Move all ten of your marbles from your point of the star into the opposite camp before anyone else. On your turn, move one marble either one step to an empty neighbouring hole, or jump over an adjacent marble of any colour into the empty hole just beyond. Jumps can be chained as long as you like, so a well-built “ladder” of marbles carries you across the board in one move. Nothing is ever captured.
Rules & strategy → · History →
FAQ
Is Chinese checkers really from China?
No. It descends from Stern-Halma, published in Germany in 1892; “Chinese checkers” was an American trade name from the 1920s. In Korea and Japan it is called the Diamond Game, in China tiàoqí.
What if an opponent never leaves my target camp?
You win once every hole of your target camp is filled and at least one is yours, so simply fill the free holes. Blocking by staying at home does not work.
Can I play without an account?
Yes. Games against the AI and pass-and-play on one device need no sign-in. Online games and the ranking need a GameNow account.
How do I play with several friends?
Choose “Invite a friend”, pick 2, 3, 4 or 6 players and share the link. The game starts automatically when the table is full, and the host can start early with any supported player count. Places count towards your rating.
Is there a time limit?
Online, each move has 30 seconds. When it runs out the most forward move is played automatically so the game never stalls, and repeated absence shortens the wait.