The Complete Guide to Checkers
Everything you need to know about cost, gear, time commitment, and getting your first real games played — before you spend a dime
by Alumigogo Books
non-fiction
A no-nonsense beginner's guide to checkers: real costs, real gear, real first steps, and honest advice on whether it's for you.
About this book
So you're curious about checkers. Maybe you played a few games at a family gathering and something clicked. Maybe you saw a tournament online and wondered what that level of play feels like. But you've also got questions: What does it actually cost? Do I need a fancy board? How much time does it take to get decent? Is this something I can do with my schedule and my budget?
This guide answers all of it — straight, without any 'just follow your passion' fluff. You'll get real dollar figures for starter boards, mid-range tournament sets, and club memberships. You'll get a realistic breakdown of how much time beginners actually need to practice, and what a typical playing session really looks like: the setup, the flow, the frustrating stretches, and the satisfying wins. There's a self-assessment checklist to help you decide if this hobby fits your life, plus a step-by-step first-weeks plan so you don't flounder.
No experience is assumed. No jargon is left unexplained. By the final page, you'll know exactly what you're signing up for — and whether it's worth it. If it is, you'll have everything you need to get started this week. If it isn't, you'll know that too, without having spent a cent on gear you didn't need.
Reader Reviews
Donald Torres
★★★★★It's fine for what it is. Chapter 1 gave me a decent sense of what playing checkers is actually like, and I appreciated that it didn't try to oversell the hobby. The cost breakdowns in later chapters were useful, but I felt some sections dragged a bit. If you're on the fence, this will help you make up your mind, just don't expect to be riveted.
Laura White
★★★★★I picked this up because I'd been considering checkers for months but kept getting overwhelmed by competing advice online. This guide honestly saved me. The first-weeks checklist got me playing within three days of reading, and the gear comparison table stopped me from wasting money on a $60 board I didn't need. The author writes like a friend talking you through it — no pressure, just real info. Absolutely worth it if you're curious.
Betty Garcia
★★★★★Solid, practical guide for beginners. I especially liked Chapter 6, which walks through an actual session — it made me realize the rhythm of the game before I ever sat down. The self-assessment checklist in Chapter 2 is brutally honest and helped me see that I do have the patience for this. Knocked off one star because I wish the cost section had more detail on mid-range boards, but overall, very useful.
Ronald Rodriguez
★★★★★Decent overview, but I expected more depth on strategy. The author keeps things simple, which is fine for a total newbie, but I already knew basic rules going in, so some of it felt like review. That said, the honest time commitment breakdowns were helpful, and the side-income reality check in Chapter 7 saved me from dreaming about going pro. Good reality check, just not a thrill ride.
George Mitchell
★★★★★This is exactly the book I wish I'd had before getting into checkers. It's honest about costs — I started with a $15 roll-up board and played fine for three months before upgrading. The learning paths table was gold: I joined a club partly because of the recommendation, and it's been a game-changer. No fluff, no hype, just real talk. If you're curious about this hobby, read this first.