Medium Pool checkers
Medium Pool checkers is the default opponent for American Pool. Same rules as Pool checkers: forced jumps, flying kings, a man that crosses the king row mid-jump keeps jumping as a man and is crowned only if it ends there.
Easy looks one move ahead and Hard looks four.
Pool rules at Medium
Capture every opposing piece, or block the other side so it cannot move. Same 8×8 start as American checkers, with Pool movement rules.
- Men may jump forward or backward.
- Kings fly along open diagonals and may land any empty square beyond a capture.
- A man that crosses the king row mid-jump keeps jumping as a man; it is crowned only if its jump ends on the king row.
How far Medium Pool looks ahead
The Medium opponent looks three moves ahead, counting each side's turn: its move, your reply, and its next move.
It understands flying kings and backward jumps; difficulty only changes how far ahead it looks.
It catches straightforward threats but not every long combination.
Flying kings at Medium
Promotion chains
Set up a man that crowns and immediately jumps as a king. Medium reads shorter than Hard — but it still punishes you if you stop one hop early.
Control long diagonals
A flying king owns the whole open line. Occupy or block the diagonal before Medium’s king lands behind your men.
Trade flying kings carefully
Exchanging kings when you lead simplifies the win. When behind, keep kings active on different diagonals so Medium cannot pin one piece.
Pool checkers difficulty levels compared
| Level | Best for | How far it looks | Typical gap | Practice focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | Learning flying kings and backward jumps | 1 move ahead (its own; never your reply) | Underestimates how far a king can land after a capture | Finish the whole jump line before you stop the turn |
| Medium (this page) | Comfortable Pool players | 3 moves ahead | Misses some multi-jump promotions; shorter king endgames | Choose landing squares that keep the king jumping |
| Hard | Sharp tactical Pool games | 4 moves ahead | Stops at four moves ahead — not professional Pool strength | Calculate backward jumps and king flights together |
Need a refresher on the basics? Read the complete Pool Checkers guide and rules on Checkerso for backward capture details, flying king landings, and promote-and-continue chains.
Frequently asked questions
How deep does Medium Pool checkers search?
It looks three moves ahead on the Pool rules.
Must I take the capture that wins the most pieces?
No. You may choose any legal jump sequence in Pool checkers on Checkerso.
When should I try Hard Pool checkers?
When you rarely leave a king jump unfinished and you want the computer to look four moves ahead.