YaliKit board game

Chinese Checkers

Race all ten of your marbles across the star to the opposite triangle. Step to a neighbour or leap over marbles in long jump chains.

How do you want to play?

Amber (you) Teal
📖 How to play

How to play Chinese Checkers

Race all ten of your marbles across the star board into the triangle on the opposite side, using single steps and long jump chains.

  1. 1

    You have ten marbles

    Your marbles start bunched in one point of the star. Amber goes first, then you take turns, moving one marble each turn.

  2. 2

    Pick a marble

    Tap one of your marbles and the holes it can move to light up. Tap it again to change your mind and pick a different one.

  3. 3

    Step to a neighbour

    Move your marble one hole to any empty neighbour in the six star directions. That is the whole turn if you only step.

  4. 4

    Jump and chain

    Or leap over a marble, yours or theirs, into the empty hole right behind it. Land next to another marble and you can jump again and again in one turn.

  5. 5

    Fill the far triangle

    Keep marching toward the triangle across the board. Tap a highlighted hole to land, and stop after any jump when you like.

How you win

Be the first to move all ten of your marbles into the triangle on the opposite side of the star. No marbles are ever captured.

Build a ladder of marbles so one turn chains a long line of jumps all the way across.

Move your back marbles out early so none get stranded, and play the computer, a friend on one device, or a friend online.

Game guide

How to play Chinese Checkers online

Chinese Checkers, also known as Stern-Halma, is a two-player strategy board game played on a six-pointed star of 121 holes, where each player has ten marbles in a starting triangle and races to move all of them into the opposite triangle. On your turn you move one marble in one of two ways: a single step into an adjacent empty hole in any of the six directions, or a jump over a single neighboring marble, your own or your opponent's, into the empty hole directly beyond it. Jumps never capture, the jumped marble stays put, and you may chain several jumps in a row with one marble to leap right across the board, choosing to stop after any jump in the chain. Turns then strictly alternate, one marble per turn, and the first player to fill every hole of the opposite triangle with their ten marbles wins. The core strategy is to build ladders of marbles so a single turn chains long jumps toward your goal, to move your back marbles out early so none get stranded, and to use your opponent's marbles as stepping stones. On YaliKit you play Chinese Checkers free in your browser against a computer opponent, with a friend in 2 player mode on one device, or against a friend online in a private room where you share the same board and take strict turns, with your marble's legal steps and jump landings highlighted. No download or signup is needed.

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Quick facts

Price
Free
Platform
Browser
Category
Strategy & Board
Install
No download

Visual play guide

Start the round

Look at the Chinese Checkers game above. If you see a start, play, or new game button, press it first.

WASD

Move or tap

Use the arrow keys, WASD, touch buttons, swipes, or a controller. Pick the controls that feel easiest.

Try again

Watch what changed after your move. If the round ends, start again and try one better idea.

How to use the game

  1. 1

    Look at the game

    The game is at the top of this page. You do not need to download anything. Just wait for it to load.

  2. 2

    Find the goal

    Chinese Checkers is about trying to play a strategic board game online. The score, board, timer, or message will show what is happening.

  3. 3

    Choose your controls

    On a computer, use the keyboard. On a phone or tablet, tap or swipe. If a controller is connected, try the d-pad or buttons.

  4. 4

    Play one round

    Make a move, see what happens, and keep going. You do not have to be perfect on the first try.

  5. 5

    Restart and improve

    When the game ends, press new game or restart. Try to beat your last score, time, or mistake count.

Try these challenges

Pick one small goal, play a round, then come back and try the next one.

First try

Play one full round of Chinese Checkers. Do not worry about winning; just learn what each button or move does.

Beat yourself

Play again and try to beat your last score, time, streak, or mistake count by a little bit.

Focus mode

Turn on fullscreen and play one quiet round. Bigger play space makes it easier to stay with the game.

Teach someone

Explain the goal of Chinese Checkers in one sentence. If you can teach it simply, you understand the game better.

Beginner tips

Read before acting

look for threats and opportunities together; a good move usually improves both attack and defense

Use fullscreen for focus

Fullscreen mode gives Chinese Checkers more room on small screens and makes the game feel closer to a native app.

Practice one pattern

Choose one skill to improve each round: timing, accuracy, board planning, or mistake recovery. Focused practice beats random replaying.

Fun facts

Replay makes you sharper

Playing Chinese Checkers again helps you remember what worked. That is why quick restart buttons are so useful.

Fast rounds help learning

Short Chinese Checkers rounds are useful because you can test one idea, see the result, and try again right away.

Your brain spots patterns

Games like Chinese Checkers help your brain notice patterns. After a few rounds, moves that felt confusing can start to feel natural.

Mistakes are clues

A mistake in Chinese Checkers is not just a loss. It is a clue that shows what to watch for next time.

FAQ

What is Chinese Checkers?+

Chinese Checkers is a free online strategy & board game you can play directly in your browser on YaliKit. It is designed for quick sessions, visible controls, and instant replay without downloads or account setup.

How do I play Chinese Checkers online?+

Start the game at the top of the page, read the current objective, then use keyboard, touch, or supported controller actions to play. The guide on this page explains the basic flow before you jump into a full round.

Does Chinese Checkers work on mobile?+

Yes. Chinese Checkers is built as a responsive browser game, so it works on modern phones and tablets. Use touch controls, rotate the screen if the game benefits from more width, and use fullscreen for a cleaner play area.

Can I play Chinese Checkers without downloading anything?+

Yes. Chinese Checkers runs in the browser with no app download required. Open the page, let the game load, and start playing immediately on desktop, mobile, or tablet.

What is the best beginner tip for Chinese Checkers?+

The best beginner tip is to make one careful decision at a time. Watch the board or playfield, understand what changed after each action, and restart with a specific improvement instead of guessing faster.

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