What is the Best First Move in Checkers? All 7 Opening Moves Ranked by 3400+ Elo AI
11-15 immediately claims central square 15, opens diagonal development for your back row (squares 7 and 8), and sets up the highest percentage of winning traps against human opponents. The #2 strongest opening is 9-14 (Double Corner), and #3 is 10-15 (Kelso).
All 7 Legal First Moves in Checkers Ranked (Best to Worst)
In standard 8x8 Checkers (where Black moves first from squares 1–12 toward Red/White on squares 21–32), Black has four pieces on the front rank (squares 9, 10, 11, 12) and exactly 7 legal opening moves. Below is the complete computer-verified ranking from our 3400+ Elo WebAssembly NNUE engine and 6-piece endgame tablebase:
| Rank | Move (PDN) | Opening Name | 3400+ NNUE Eval | Practical Win Rate vs Humans | Interactive Explorer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 🏆 | 11-15 |
Old Faithful | +0.18 (Best Initiative) | 64% Win / 26% Draw | Explore 11-15 → |
| #2 🥈 | 9-14 |
Double Corner | +0.12 (Rock Solid) | 59% Win / 30% Draw | Explore 9-14 → |
| #3 🥉 | 10-15 |
Kelso Opening | +0.09 (Sharp Center) | 57% Win / 28% Draw | Explore 10-15 → |
| #4 | 10-14 |
Denny Opening | +0.05 (Balanced) | 54% Win / 31% Draw | Explore 10-14 → |
| #5 | 11-16 |
Bristol Opening | +0.03 (Flank Control) | 52% Win / 32% Draw | Explore 11-16 → |
| #6 | 9-13 |
Edinburgh Opening | -0.04 (Complicated) | 50% Win / 29% Draw | Explore 9-13 → |
| #7 ⚠️ | 12-16 |
Dundee Opening | -0.22 (Passive Edge) | 41% Win / 27% Draw | View Book → |
Why 11-15 ("Old Faithful") is the Undisputed #1 First Move
For over 150 years—from 19th-century masters Andrew Anderson and James Wyllie to World Champion Marion Tinsley and modern 3400+ Elo NNUE neural networks—11-15 has earned the nickname "Old Faithful" for three structural reasons:
- Direct Central Occupation: Square 15 is one of the four critical center squares (
14, 15, 18, 19). Occupying square 15 on move 1 radiates influence toward both squares 18 and 19. - Immediate Back-Row Development: Moving from square 11 vacates a key feeder square, allowing your pieces on
7and8(and subsequently your apex piece on3or4) to advance into a compact pyramid formation without leaving holes in your king row. - High Trap Density: After
1. 11-15, the game branches into famous systems like Single Corner (22-18), The Cross (23-18), Old Fourteenth (23-19, 8-11, 22-17, 4-8), and Laird & Lady (23-19, 8-11, 22-17, 9-13)—all rich in 2-for-1 and 3-for-2 tactical shots.
How to Respond When Your Opponent Plays First (Best Replies for Red/White)
If your opponent opens with 11-15, here are the three best grandmaster replies according to our Checkers Openings Explorer:
- 23-19 (Main Line): Challenges square 15 head-on. If Black replies
8-11, play22-17to contest the center. - 22-18 (Single Corner): Forces an immediate central trade (
15x22 25x18), simplifying the board into a crystal-clear positional battle ideal for intermediate players. - 23-18 (The Cross): Avoids an immediate trade and creates asymmetrical tension across the center diagonals.
What About Russian Shashki & Brazilian Damas 8x8?
In Russian Checkers (Русские шашки) and Brazilian Draughts (Damas Brasileiras), where White moves first using algebraic notation (a1–h8) and kings fly across long diagonals, the equivalent central opening moves are:
c3-d4(Central Opening / Игра Косяк & Городская партия): The strongest and most popular first move in Russian Shashki and Brazilian Damas, seizing the d4 central square immediately.g3-f4(Bodiansky / Тычок): Sharp, aggressive flank-center opening favored by tactical players.