Edition: Classic Chinese Checkers, also called Sternhalma, on a star board with 10 marbles per player and regular jumps over one marble at a time. Last checked October 25, 2026
Chinese Checkers Rules: How to Play Chinese Checkers
Chinese Checkers is played on a star shaped board where everyone races to move their marbles across to the opposite point. Nobody gets captured, but you can jump over your own marbles and other players' marbles alike. Here are the rules and answers to the classic arguments.
- Players
- 2, 3, 4 or 6
- Age
- 6 and up
- Playing time
- 20 to 45 minutes
How to win: The first player to move all 10 marbles into the triangle directly across from their start wins.
Who is right?
The classic arguments at the table when you play Chinese Checkers.
Can you jump over several marbles at once?
No, not in the classic version.
Each jump goes over one marble right next to you and into the hole directly behind it. You can, however, chain many jumps together in one turn.
In the long jump variant, sometimes called Super Chinese Checkers, you may jump over a marble from a distance and land the same distance on the other side. It makes the game much faster.
What if an opponent's marble stays in my goal?
You can still win.
Under many manufacturers' rules you have won when every open hole in your goal is filled with your own marbles, even if an opponent's marble is sitting there.
Some families have a rule against parking marbles in someone else's goal on purpose. You must move them on as soon as you can.
Can a marble leave the goal again?
No.
Once a marble has reached your goal triangle, it may only move around inside it. It may not leave again.
Some let marbles hop out of the goal and back in during the same turn, when used as a stepping stone for a long chain of jumps.
Can you move through the other points of the star?
Not every rule sheet says.
Many rule sheets do not mention it. Common practice is that you may jump through an empty point, but not end your turn there unless it is your start or your goal.
Some families ban entering other points completely to keep the game simple.
What you need
- A star shaped Chinese Checkers board with six points
- 10 marbles or pegs in each color, up to six colors
Setup
- 1Each player picks a color and fills one point of the star with 10 marbles.
- 2With 2 players, start in two points directly across from each other.
- 3With 3 players, use every other point, so the goals start empty.
- 4With 4 players, use two pairs of opposite points and leave the last two points empty.
- 5With 6 players, every point is in use.
How to play
- 1Decide who goes first, like the youngest player. Then play goes clockwise.
- 2On your turn, move one marble. Either take one step to an empty neighboring hole, or make one or more jumps.
- 3A jump goes over a marble right next to you and into the empty hole directly behind it.
- 4You may jump over your own marbles and other players' marbles.
- 5After a jump you may keep jumping with the same marble as long as you can, or stop whenever you like.
- 6You may not mix a step and jumps in the same turn.
- 7Marbles are never captured and always stay on the board.
- 8Once a marble reaches your goal triangle, it may only move around inside it.
- 9The first player to fill their goal triangle wins. The others can keep playing for second place and beyond.
House rules
Pick the rules you want to play with tonight. Everyone at the table has to agree.
Our Chinese Checkers rules for tonight
Everything else follows the official rules.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chinese Checkers from China?
No. It comes from Germany, where it is called Sternhalma, and got its name in the US in the 1920s. Chinese chess, xiangqi, is a completely different game that is more like regular chess.
Why can't five people play?
With five players, one player would have an empty goal across from them, while the others have to move into a point where an opponent starts. That gives one player too big an advantage.
How many marbles does each player use?
Usually 10. With two players, some use 15 each for a longer game.
Source: Manufacturers' rule sheets for Chinese Checkers and common family tradition. The rules are written in our own words. Ask the referee if you are unsure.