Looking for the ancestor of checkers - not English 8x8 or international 10x10 draughts? Alquerque - Classic Board Game is a Chrome extension for offline Alquerque (also called Qirkat): a 5x5 point lattice, 12 men per side, cream vs navy, and a built-in AI with 300 levels. Open it from the toolbar popup, play a focused match, and keep going when you close the window - progress auto-saves.
Install from the official listing: Alquerque - Classic Board Game on the Chrome Web Store (extension ID cahidjhhgenfgceafloiepdgndaoogmo). Store snapshot around version 1.0.5 - always re-check the live page before you install. A related checkers destination is checkers.happyvials.com (separate from this extension). On AddonUp, browse more browser games under Games, including American Checkers and International Draughts.
What Alquerque is
Alquerque (Qirkat) is a historical abstract strategy game on a 5x5 point lattice. Each side starts with 12 pieces; the center point begins empty. Moves follow the classic Alquerque lines - not every diagonal is open - so planning matters as much as speed. Captures are mandatory, and when several capture sequences exist you take the one that captures the most pieces (majority capture).
That ruleset is the historical root many people associate with later checkers and draughts variants. This extension packages authentic Alquerque for a quiet Chrome popup: cream pieces for you (move first), navy for the AI, soft piece motion, clear move highlights, and a parchment look that stays readable during short breaks.
Key features
- Authentic Alquerque rules: 5x5 lattice, 12 men per side, cream vs navy, majority capture built into the engine.
- 300 AI levels: play vs bot; wins raise the challenge so you can climb from casual practice to tougher tactics.
- Undo and move highlights: preview legal points along marked lines and take a second look when a jump sequence goes wrong.
- Auto-save progress: level, stats, and the in-progress game save when you close the popup.
- Parchment UI + rules panel: a calm, distraction-free board with rules one tap away inside the popup.
Not American checkers, not international draughts
If you want English/American checkers on an 8x8 board with short kings, that is a different product - see American Checkers. If you want 10x10 international draughts with flying kings, see International Draughts or our walkthrough International Draughts for Chrome. Alquerque stays on the 5x5 lattice with line-based movement - a compact ancestor game, not a reskin of modern draughts.
It is also distinct from online multiplayer checkers lobbies. This build focuses on Play vs AI in an offline Chrome popup. Settings modes labeled Online, Private, and Profile are noted as coming soon on the store listing - the current experience is the complete solo classic board game.
How a typical game works
- Click the Alquerque icon in Chrome to open the popup.
- You play cream and move first; the AI plays navy.
- Select a piece, then a highlighted point along a marked line.
- Jump adjacent enemies onto the empty point beyond. If a capture exists, you must take one - and choose the sequence that captures the most pieces.
- Win by capturing every enemy piece or leaving the AI with no legal move. Quiet-move and repetition draws are handled for you.
Who should install it
- Players who want authentic Alquerque / Qirkat, not English or international checkers rules.
- Anyone who prefers a short offline popup match with auto-save instead of accounts or lobbies.
- Learners who want a long difficulty ladder (300 AI levels) plus undo while they learn majority capture.
How to install Alquerque
- Open the Chrome Web Store page for Alquerque - Classic Board Game and confirm the extension ID matches cahidjhhgenfgceafloiepdgndaoogmo.
- Click Add to Chrome, then confirm the install prompt.
- Pin the extension, open the popup, skim the rules panel if needed, and start a game vs AI.
FAQ
Is this American checkers or international draughts?
No. Alquerque uses a 5x5 lattice with line-based moves and 12 men per side. For English 8x8 rules see American Checkers; for 10x10 flying kings see International Draughts.
Do I need an account or internet after install?
No account is required for Play vs AI. The pitch is an offline Chrome popup with auto-saved progress. Re-check the live store listing for current permissions and privacy details.
How many AI levels are there?
The listing describes 300 difficulty levels. Wins raise the challenge so you can climb from easy practice into harder tactical games.
Is checkers.happyvials.com required?
No. The Chrome extension is the product you install from the Chrome Web Store. The site is a related checkers destination, not part of the Alquerque extension package.
Get started
If you want offline Alquerque (Qirkat) with authentic 5x5 rules, majority capture, undo, and 300 AI levels in a parchment Chrome popup, install Alquerque - Classic Board Game and open a match. Explore more Chrome mini-games in AddonUp Games.