King’s Court

About this board game

King’s Court is a two-player board game from 1986, designed for approximately 20 minutes of play. On its 8×8 board, the squares are rotated 45 degrees, creating a distinctive setting for a checkers-inspired contest.

The central 4×4 area is the King’s Court. Green and orange pieces begin on the 48 squares surrounding the Court, while the opening moves require both players to enter a piece onto the Court from opposing sides. No jumping is allowed during these initial moves.

Once the opening is complete, the Court becomes the focus of every turn. A piece must be present on the Court at all times; if a player has no piece there, that player loses. This rule gives the central area a constant tactical importance throughout the game.

• Board: An 8×8 grid with the squares rotated 45 degrees.
• Central area: A 4×4 King’s Court.
• Movement: Pieces move as in Checkers, but every piece moves like a King, with no directional restrictions.
• Jumps: Jumps follow Checkers rules, except a piece may jump over its own pieces without capturing them.

These rules combine familiar Checkers movement with an unusual control condition. Direction is unrestricted, but maintaining a presence in the Court is essential, so players must balance entry, movement, and jumping around the central area.

With its compact board, unusual orientation, and decisive Court rule, King’s Court offers a focused abstract game for two players. The result is a short contest in which the ability to move in every direction and jump friendly pieces shapes how each player approaches the center.