Play Argo Checkers (Shareware) Online

Argo Checkers was one of those quiet, unassuming titles in the MS-DOS Classic Games shareware collection. I don't recall the developer's name, but it fit right into that era of straightforward digital adaptations of classic board games, the kind you'd find on a BBS or a floppy disk mixed in with more flashy demos. It didn't try to reinvent the wheel, just offered a solid, no-frills version of checkers for your 286 or 386.

You control the red or black pieces, moving them diagonally across the familiar 8x8 board. The main objective is to capture all of your opponent's pieces or block them from being able to move. Its signature mechanics are the forced capture rule, which the AI enforces strictly, and the kinging of pieces that reach the far row, granting them the ability to move backwards. The pacing is methodical, and the difficulty ramps up noticeably against the computer, which is surprisingly competent at setting traps. It feels like a clean, focused mental exercise, the digital equivalent of a well-worn wooden board.

Each game uses different controls, most DOS games use the keyboard arrows. Some will use the mouse , "Alt" ,"Enter" and "Space bar".