<p>There are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draughts" rel="noreferrer">many variants of checkers/draughts</a>, and for all of them (including the Checkers variant played predominantly in the English-speaking world), not only is jumping compulsory, it is also compulsory to keep jumping until all the jumps are completed. Quote from the <a href="http://www.usacheckers.com/downloads/WCDF_Revised_Rules.doc" rel="noreferrer">American Checkers Federation's official rulebook</a>: </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>1.19  <strong>If a jump creates an immediate further capturing opportunity, then the capturing move of the piece (man or king) is continued until
  all the jumps are completed</strong>. The only exception is that if a man
  reaches the king-row by means of a capturing move it then becomes a
  king but may not make any further jumps until their opponent has
  moved.  At the end of the capturing sequence, all captured pieces are
  removed from the board.</p>
  
  <p>1.20  <strong>All capturing moves are compulsory</strong>, whether offered actively or passively. If there are two or more ways to jump, <strong>a player may select
  any one that they wish, not necessarily that which gains the most
  pieces</strong>. Once started, a multiple jump must be carried through to
  completion. A man can only be jumped once during a multiple jumping
  sequence.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>However, the rules for selecting among multiple ways to jump differs from variant to variant. E.g. for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_draughts" rel="noreferrer">International draughts</a>, the sequence with the most jumped pieces has to be selected, and for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_draughts" rel="noreferrer">Italian draughts</a> there are even further tie-breaker rules depending on the number of kings that are being captured.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-27T20:40:03.763Z
2014-01-27T20:40:03.763Z
TemplateRex
<p>There are many different <a href="http://www.checkerschest.com/checkers-games/german-checkers.htm" rel="noreferrer">Checkers variants</a>, but I believe most of them use a forced capture rule.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-26T12:49:05.017Z
In fact, *every* checkers variant uses not only the forced capture rule, but also the forced *capture continuation* rule. Where these variants can differ is the *capture precedence* rule. In Checkers as played predominantly in the English-speaking world, a player can play any capture sequence as long as it finishes that sequence. In other variants, capture precedence is given to the longest capture sequence.
TemplateRex
CC BY-SA 2.5
2011-01-18T06:24:54.973Z
2011-01-18T06:24:54.973Z
Don Kirkby
<p>I've always had the same rules that <a href="http://boardgames.about.com/cs/checkersdraughts/ht/play_checkers.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this article</a> does (Rule 9), if you can jump, you have to jump at least once, but you don't have to jump any more than that.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-27T18:28:22.327Z
I think you're mis-reading rule 9.  If after the jump you choose there's still another jump available, you _do_ have to take that additional jump - but you don't have to choose the multi-jump move in the first place in preference to some move that only offers a single jump.
Steven Stadnicki
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-10T15:14:32.840Z
I down-voted this answer as bad, reasons why are explained by the comment above.
Xonatron
CC BY-SA 2.5
2011-01-08T23:23:14.180Z
2011-01-08T23:23:14.180Z
PearsonArtPhoto
<p>In short -- for tournaments, <strong>yes</strong>.</p>

<p>I never played with forced jumps as a kid, but my father-in-law always plays with forced jumps.  So I did a little digging around, and this is what I found:</p>

<p>The American Checker Federation seems to be the only sanctioned checkers organization I could find.  According to the American Checker Federation, <a href="http://www.usacheckers.com/rulesofcheckers.php">rule #1.20</a> says</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>1.20  All capturing moves are compulsory, whether offered actively or passively...</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 2.5
2011-01-10T03:31:37.103Z
if you have more than one jump available, however, you are not required to take any in preference over another.
warren
CC BY-SA 2.5
2011-01-11T09:05:56.577Z
I think you only found one organisation because the rest of the world calls the game something else ;-) Here's a list of others: http://fmjd.org/?p=all
tttppp
CC BY-SA 2.5
2011-01-11T12:06:50.847Z
@tttppp - first football, then Clue, now this??  Seriously, though, thanks for pointing that out!
LittleBobbyTables - Au Revoir
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-01-08T23:24:27.153Z
2014-03-28T04:11:37.143Z
2014-03-28T04:11:37.143Z
LittleBobbyTables - Au Revoir
<p>Is a player in checkers required to take a jump if one is available?  What about a double or triple jump if that is available?</p>

<checkers>
Must a player take a jump in checkers?
C. Ross
# Must a player take a jump in checkers?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2011-01-08)

Is a player in checkers required to take a jump if one is available? What about a double or triple jump if that is available?

**Tags:** checkers


---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_6 on 2011-01-08. Score: 46 | Accepted answer

In short -- for tournaments, **yes**.

I never played with forced jumps as a kid, but my father-in-law always plays with forced jumps. So I did a little digging around, and this is what I found:

The American Checker Federation seems to be the only sanctioned checkers organization I could find. According to the American Checker Federation, [rule #1.20](http://www.usacheckers.com/rulesofcheckers.php) says

> 1.20 All capturing moves are compulsory, whether offered actively or passively...

> **Comments:**
> **username_7**: if you have more than one jump available, however, you are not required to take any in preference over another.  
> **username_8**: I think you only found one organisation because the rest of the world calls the game something else ;-) Here's a list of others: http://fmjd.org/?p=all  
> **username_6**: @username_8 - first football, then Clue, now this??  Seriously, though, thanks for pointing that out!  

---

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-01-27. Score: 12

There are [many variants of checkers/draughts](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draughts), and for all of them (including the Checkers variant played predominantly in the English-speaking world), not only is jumping compulsory, it is also compulsory to keep jumping until all the jumps are completed. Quote from the [American Checkers Federation's official rulebook](http://www.usacheckers.com/downloads/WCDF_Revised_Rules.doc):

> 1.19 **If a jump creates an immediate further capturing opportunity, then the capturing move of the piece (man or king) is continued until
> all the jumps are completed**. The only exception is that if a man
> reaches the king-row by means of a capturing move it then becomes a
> king but may not make any further jumps until their opponent has
> moved. At the end of the capturing sequence, all captured pieces are
> removed from the board.
>
> 1.20 **All capturing moves are compulsory**, whether offered actively or passively. If there are two or more ways to jump, **a player may select
> any one that they wish, not necessarily that which gains the most
> pieces**. Once started, a multiple jump must be carried through to
> completion. A man can only be jumped once during a multiple jumping
> sequence.

However, the rules for selecting among multiple ways to jump differs from variant to variant. E.g. for [International draughts](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_draughts), the sequence with the most jumped pieces has to be selected, and for [Italian draughts](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_draughts) there are even further tie-breaker rules depending on the number of kings that are being captured.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2011-01-18. Score: 6

There are many different [Checkers variants](http://www.checkerschest.com/checkers-games/german-checkers.htm), but I believe most of them use a forced capture rule.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: In fact, *every* checkers variant uses not only the forced capture rule, but also the forced *capture continuation* rule. Where these variants can differ is the *capture precedence* rule. In Checkers as played predominantly in the English-speaking world, a player can play any capture sequence as long as it finishes that sequence. In other variants, capture precedence is given to the longest capture sequence.  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2011-01-08. Score: 4

I've always had the same rules that [this article](http://boardgames.about.com/cs/checkersdraughts/ht/play_checkers.htm) does (Rule 9), if you can jump, you have to jump at least once, but you don't have to jump any more than that.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: I think you're mis-reading rule 9.  If after the jump you choose there's still another jump available, you _do_ have to take that additional jump - but you don't have to choose the multi-jump move in the first place in preference to some move that only offers a single jump.  
> **username_5**: I down-voted this answer as bad, reasons why are explained by the comment above.  

---

