| How to Play Checkers Posted: 19 Jun 2018 05:00 PM PDT Checkers, also known as draughts, is a fun and easy game that dates back to the 12th century. To win a game of checkers, you have to move your pieces towards your opponent's side of the board. You can move faster by jumping your opponent's pieces and removing them from the board. The concept of checkers is simple, but you can use strategies to improve your chances of winning. This wikiHow will show you how to play it. EditSetting Up the Game - Determine who will have the first turn. Before you set up the board, you need to choose who goes first. You can do this based on who won the last game, a coin toss, or by any other method. The person who will go first will take the black checkers and the other will take the white.[1]
- Keep in mind that in checkers, the player with the black checkers always goes first.
- Set up the board. Sit across from your opponent and place the board between you and your opponent. The board is made up of 64 alternating dark and light squares which appear in 8 rows of 8. There are 32 light squares and 32 dark squares. Place the board so that each player has a light colored square on the corner of the board on his or her right side.[2]
- Place the checkers on the board. Have each player place his pieces on the 12 dark squares in the first three rows closest to him or her. Each of these three rows should have a total of 4 checkers. Remember that checkers may only move in diagonal directions on the dark squares.[3]
- Since the board has 8 rows, 6 of the rows will be taken up by the players' checkers and two rows will be left open in the middle of the board.
- Decide if you are going to time each other's moves. In tournament checkers games, each player gets five minutes to make a move. If you want to time each other's moves to keep the game moving along, make sure that you place a timer near the checkers board before you begin a game.[4]
EditPlaying Checkers - Start the game. The player with the black checkers moves first. Checkers may only move one diagonal space forward (toward your opponent's checkers) in the beginning of the game. Remember that checkers must stay on the dark squares.[5]
- Jump and capture your opponent's checkers. If your checker is located in the diagonal space nearest to your opponent's checker, then you can jump and capture that checker. To capture a checker, just jump over it by moving two diagonal spaces in the direction of the checker, like you are hopping over your opponent's checker. Once you capture the checker, you can take it off the board.[6]
- Keep in mind that a space on the other side of your opponent's checker has to be empty so that you can move into it.
- If you have the opportunity to jump your opponent's checker, then you have to take it.
- If you have the opportunity to jump your opponent's checker in multiple parts of the board, then you can choose which checkers you'd like to jump.
- If you're capturing a checker, you can still only move forward once. But if the new position you land in gives you a direct opportunity to capture another checker, then you must keep going until you can't capture any more of your opponent's checkers.
- King your checkers when they reach the end of your opponent's board. To crown a checker and make it a king checker, simply place one of your own captured pieces on top of it. Because of its height, you will be able to tell it apart from the other pieces. The king can move forward and backward, so it's easier for king checkers to capture your opponent's checkers.[7]
- Kings can still only move one diagonal space at a time during a non-capture move. However, when a king is capturing checkers, it can move forward and backward on the same turn. This would apply only if a king was doing a capture move that required it to change directions, such as if two checkers were lined up on diagonal spaces that fall into the same horizontal line. To capture these checkers, the king would have to jump forwards and then backwards.
- Some checkers sets have a crown on the back of the checkers, so you can just flip a piece over once it is crowned to designate it as the king.
- There is no limit to how many crowned pieces you can have.
- Keep jumping and capturing. Continue jumping and capturing your opponent's checkers until they are all removed from the board. Once you have captured all of your opponent's checkers, you have won the game![8]
- A less common way to win is when all of your opponent's pieces are blocked so that your opponent can't make any more moves.
EditImproving Your Game - Play an offense game, not a defense game. A beginner may be tempted to keep his pieces at the edges of the board and to try to avoid the opponent's checkers as much as possible, but this is a mistake. Work on capturing your opponent's checkers rather than going out of your way to defend your own. It's okay if some of your pieces get captured as long as you capture more of your opponent's pieces.
- Be bold and try to capture your opponent's checkers whenever you can.
- Move your pieces together. If you move a stray checker a few squares forward without moving the rest of your checkers, that piece will be vulnerable to capture. Instead, try keeping some of your checkers together, like a blockade. The center of the board is a good place to a have a group of checkers protecting each other as they move forward. Just try not to move all of your checkers towards the center because it will be hard to move them.[9]
- If your checkers move together, it will be harder for your opponent to capture your checkers. But if your opponent does still manage to capture your checker, then you'll have a piece waiting to capture his checker as well.
- Keep a full back row for as long as you can. If your opponent gets a piece to your back row, then it will be crowned and more difficult to capture. Keeping a full back row is the best way to keep your opponent from crowning his pieces. It will also make it easier for you to capture any opposing pieces that approach your back row.[10]
- Know when to sacrifice your pieces. There's a right time for you to sacrifice your checkers. If you're ahead in the game, or even dead even with your opponent, don't be afraid to sacrifice a piece if it means you'll be able to capture your opponent's piece back or gain a significant positional advantage. Keep the forward momentum going.[11]
- Do what you can to avoid having your king captured. The king is much more valuable than a regular checker.
- Don't trade pieces if it will make it easier for your opponent to king a piece.
- Trade one for two. Give up one of your pieces if it means you can capture two of your opponent's pieces in return.
- Focus on the kings. You should focus on crowning as many of your pieces as possible, as well as on keeping your opponent from crowning his pieces. This should be a priority as you advance in the game. However, don't crown your pieces if it means losing several checkers on the way. Be strategic about knowing when to crown your piece.
- Block your opponent. Try to keep his active pieces blocked if you can, so he will be forced to play with pieces such as those in the back row. If all your opponent's pieces are blocked and cannot move, then he will lose. You can also work on capturing more of your opponent's pieces or crowning your own.
- Keep practicing. Though there's no fool-proof way to win at checkers every single time, the more you play, the more you'll understand how to strategize. If you want to be a checkers expert, you should try to play as much as you can to improve your game.[12]
- Try playing with someone above your skill level. This will challenge you and will force you to pick up your game.
- Watch an expert. Watch an expert checkers player, either in person or on television. You'll pick up a lot of pointers just by watching an expert maneuver his pieces around the board. Pay attention to what the expert does in certain situations.[13]
- Try reading about checkers strategies online or in books as well. Some checkers experts have written about their strategies and reading about them may help you to improve your game.
EditPrintable Rule and Strategy Sheets - When your pieces are on an edge of the board, they can't be jumped. Use this to your advantage.
- Keep your back row until most of your opponents checkers are lined up in front of them. Then you can jump a lot of pieces!
EditThings You'll Need - Checker board
- Checkers
- Someone to play with you
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations EditQuick Summary
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| How to Pack a Bag or Suitcase Efficiently Posted: 19 Jun 2018 09:00 AM PDT Packing for a trip is much easier when you plan ahead. As you plan your trip, you can determine what you need to take with you by looking at the weather, location, and activities planned. It also helps to make sure that you have a sturdy bag that fits your basic needs. No matter what bag you bring, you can make the most out of it by packing carefully to optimize your space. Be sure to include toiletries, medications and valuables such as jewelry in a separate traveling case. EditPacking Checklists EditMaximizing Your Bag's Space - Choose between rolling and folding your clothing. If you need more space in your suitcase and aren't worried about the weight, roll your clothes. This will take a lot less room than folded shirts and pants. If you do not need as much space and want to keep the weight down, fold your clothes. Folding is also generally better if you have clothes that are prone to wrinkling.[1]
- Roll items as tightly as possible in order to save the most space. You can even use rubber bands or hair ties to keep rolled clothes tight in your bag.
- Rolled items will need to be packed tightly to stay organized, which is why this method is best if you're trying to fit a lot into a smaller bag.
- Use packing cubes to make sure everything fits together. Packing cubes are smaller bags that you use to organize your suitcase. Depending on your needs, these can be organized by outfit, by weight, or by items. For example, you may have a heavy, midweight, and light cube, or you may have one for all your shirts, all your undergarments, etc.[2]
- Packing cubes are available from many department stores as well as major online retailers.
- You may be able to find some packing cubes that you can vacuum-seal. Be careful to account for space after you open the bags, though. Unless you will have access to vacuum to compress the bags again, the items will take up more space after the cube is open.
- Use the inside of your shoes as storage space. Stuff your socks inside your shoes if there is no other room for them. Other small clothing items such as underwear are also easy to roll and place in your shoes. Small, fragile trinkets and souvenirs also work well in shoes, as the shoes offer extra padding and safety[3].
- Use creases and gaps to place underwear. Fit the underwear and socks down the sides and in the space between your clothing once the case is full. This will make sure that you don't use valuable space in the middle for smaller items.[4]
EditPacking Light - Check out the weather at your destination(s) before you go. Look online or check the area's news forecast to get an idea of what the weather will be during your trip. Pack items that will work well for the weather, and leave behind pieces that aren't seasonally appropriate.[5]
- Is it going to rain? Pack a rain jacket or something that can get wet and dry quickly. If it is going to be hot, pack shorts.
- On the other hand, if it's going to be snowing the whole time, you can probably leave your shorts at home, no matter how good they look.
- Plan your wardrobe to match your itinerary. Think about what you will be doing on your trip, and pick clothes that match your agenda. If, for example, you want to spend most of your time at the beach, focus on packing swimsuits and lightweight clothes. If you're packing for a business trip, though, you may want to focus more on professional attire like collared shirts and blazers.[6]
- If you can, try planning each day in advance. Pack in outfits, rather than singular items. This will help you decide exactly what pieces of clothing to take.
- Choose multi-functional items. While some trips may require certain outfits for special occasions, most trips don't. In those cases, look for items that can be dressed up or dressed down depending on what you need for that day. Try to keep items in the same complimentary color palette to make sure everything you bring goes together.[7]
- Instead of bringing a different dress for walking around during the day and going out at night, for example, try brining one cute and comfortable black dress. Pair it with a cardigan or sweater to dress it down, or let it stand by itself for a night out.
- Save shoe space by opting to bring one or two pairs of neutral tone shoes that can go with multiple outfits. A pair of black ankle boots with a chunky heel, for example, can take the place of a pair of casual flats, formal heels, and sturdy trainers for walking around town.
- Pack several lightweight layers. Light layers typically work well for both warm and cool weather. If you plan on visiting multiple climates, pack items like basic t-shirts, light jackets and sweatshirts, and scarves that can easily be put on and removed as necessary.[8]
- If you are packing for multiple occasions, bring a few basic items like shirts or blouses. Then, dress them up with layers like jackets and blazers, or dress them down with casual accessories.
- Light layers are often helpful, but they aren't the right answer for every destination. If you're going to the Arctic Circle in the winter, you should pack one durable sub zero-rated jacket rather than several lighter sweatshirts.
- Look into your accommodation's facilities to see if there is laundry service. Some hotels and hostels will have laundry rooms for their guests to use. Others may be close to a laundromat or a dry cleaner. See if there is a laundry service at or near where you will be staying. If so, plan on doing a load or two of laundry so that you can reuse clothes instead of packing more.[9]
- Make a packing list. Once you have a clear idea of what you will need to match your trip's weather and schedule, make a packing list. This will help keep you organized and bring only the things you need. If it's not on the list, it likely doesn't need to be in your bag.[10]
- Don't forget to include things like underwear, socks, sleepwear, and toiletries on your packing list. These items can be easy to overlook.
EditMaking the Most of Your Bag - Choose the right bag for your trip. Different trips will have different luggage requirements. Think about the type of bag that will be best for your trip. Are you going on a shorter trip? If so, you may want a smaller bag. Do you plan on going to a bunch of different destinations? Then consider an easy-to-carry backpack instead of a more cumbersome suitcase.[11]
- If you prefer to sling your bag over your shoulder, carry it around with you, or want more flexibility in how you organize your bag, a duffel bag may be a better choice for you.
- Suitcases tend to be easier to pack and unpack and easier to organize. However, they harder to carry with you throughout the day and can be more difficult to store in small spaces.
- Depending on your needs, you can find bags that have built-in toiletry kits, garment bags, shoe storage, laptop and tech storage, and other features.
- Pack your duffle bag from lowest to highest priority items. Duffel bags are great for getting a lot in a smaller bag, but they don't open up all the way like a suitcase. That means that you should put the items you will need sooner toward the top of your bag.[12]
- Lower priority items like spare jeans and shoes can go on the bottom.
- Items you will need right away, including your toiletries if you will need to take them out for security screening, should be packed on top.
- For fragile items, you may want to purchase a smaller hard case that you can pack in your bags. Items like shampoo and lotion that are prone to leaking should be packed in water-resistant bags such as a toiletries kit or plastic bag.
- Organize your suitcase from heaviest on the bottom to lightest on top. Always put heavier or larger items at the bottom of the suitcase. This will make it easier to find items and will keep heavy objects from crushing or damaging lighter pieces such as souvenirs and toiletries. [13]
- Pack lighter items like dress shirts on top. This will help evenly distribute the weight and keep lightweight clothes from wrinkling.
- Pack fragile items in the center of your case. This way, they are less likely to be broken. You can also roll them up in t-shirts or other pieces of clothing to offer additional padding and protection.[14]
- Bring plastic bags for dirty shoes and laundry. Carry a few plastic bags with you so that you can pack dirty shoes and laundry. This allows you to take your dirty items with you without having to pack an extra bag or use a whole side of your suitcase just for dirty clothes. You can use a grocery bag, small trash bags, or even shower caps for shoes.[15]
- If you are traveling by plane or train, try wearing your bulkiest clothes during your journey. This will maximize the amount of space you have in your bag for other items. For example, wear your boots and pack your flats to save on shoe space.
- Place toiletries in a toiletries bag to prevent leakage on your clothing.
- In order to keep necklaces and bracelets from tangling, loop one end through a straw and clasp it on the other end.
- Use travel-size toiletries to save space for shorter trips. If you are flying on a plane in the US, they must be or less.
- Make sure to add a durable, up-to-date luggage tag to all of your bags. That way, your transportation company can contact you if your bag is lost or damaged.
- If you are traveling by airplane or going through a security checkpoint, make sure you don't bring any knives, guns, lighters, nail clippers, silverware, perishable items, letter openers, and large amounts of liquids, as they may be confiscated.
- Many airlines have weight restrictions for carry-on and checked bags. Check with your carrier to see their weight restrictions and associated fees.
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations
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| How to Produce Saliva Posted: 19 Jun 2018 01:00 AM PDT Having too little saliva can make your mouth uncomfortable and can cause dental problems, as saliva actually works to protect your teeth. If you don't produce enough saliva naturally, there are a variety of ways you can increase your production. Using common foods and household goods is often the easiest way to produce more saliva. However, if saliva production is extremely low and nothing you do seems to work, you can also get medical treatment for the problem.[1] EditIncreasing Saliva With Food and Drink - Chew gum. One of the quickest and easiest ways to produce more saliva is to pop a stick of gum in your mouth and chew it. The chewing action tells your body that you are eating and that you need saliva to process your food.[2]
- It's a good idea to chew sugar-free gum if you have a problem producing saliva. The health of your teeth is already at risk from not having enough saliva, so introducing a bunch of sugar into your mouth potentially adds to the problem.
- Xylitol sweetened gum or candy is a good option that will help you avoid cavities.[3]
- Suck on a lozenge, hard candy, mint, or sucker. Sucking on something that is a bit tart or sweet can cause your salivary glands to kick into action. However, consider using something sugar free, such as sugar free mints, so that you do not damage your teeth.[4]
- Try choosing a sucker, candy, or lozenge that is a bit tart. The tartness will stimulate the glands really well.
- Stay hydrated. When fighting off dry mouth, it's important to keep enough moisture in your body. Drink water throughout the day so that your system is hydrated, your mouth stays moist, and mucus in your mouth is loosened.[5]
- Drink a beverage. One way to moisturize your mouth immediately is to drink something. Drinking things physically moisturizes the mouth but it also kick starts saliva production.[6]
- Don't pick a beverage that contains alcohol or caffeine. These can both inhibit saliva production.
- Eat foods that stimulate saliva production. There are a variety of foods that are good at stimulating salivary glands to start producing saliva. This is due to their texture, sugar content, acidity, or bitterness. They include:[7]
- Apples
- Hard cheeses
- Crunchy vegetables
- Citrus
- Bitter greens
EditUsing Over-the-Counter Products and Home Remedies - Use an apple cider vinegar mouthwash. A home remedy that can help with saliva production is a simple combination of apple cider vinegar and water. Put a tablespoon of vinegar in a glass of water. Swish a mouth full of the mixture in your mouth and then spit it out after about a minute.[8]
- This remedy is a mouthwash, breath freshener, and a mouth moisturizer all in one.
- Use over-the-counter artificial saliva. There are a variety of products available at most pharmacies that can be used to eliminate dry mouth. They are put in the mouth at regular intervals to moisten the mouth and stimulate saliva production.[9]
- These products come in a variety of forms. They can be a spray, gel, or mouth rinse.
- Reduce snoring and sleeping with an open mouth. One common cause of dry mouth and limited saliva is sleeping with your mouth open and snoring. To minimize dry mouth in the mornings and keep your level of saliva normal, change your sleeping position, open your nasal airway, and implement other lifestyle changes that make breathing easier.
- Open mouth breathing and snoring while sleeping pulls air across your mouth, reducing the amount of moisture that remains.
- If simple lifestyle changes and a new sleeping position don't help, contact a doctor to help you find other solutions.[10]
EditGetting Medical Treatment - Discuss ongoing problems with your doctor. If you are having trouble with dry mouth you should talk to your doctor about possible causes and treatments. It's important to have enough saliva, so if home remedies and such are not working, get medical care for the problem.
- Avoid medications that cause dry mouth. If you are taking a medication that causes dry mouth, talk to your doctor about alternatives. There may be another medication for your condition that won't cause the side effect of dry mouth.
- There are hundreds of medications that are known to cause dry mouth, including very common ones like benadryl, acetaminophen and claritin.[11]
- Manage any underlying medical problems. In many cases, dry mouth that is serious enough to get medical care is related to a medical issue. It could be the side effect of medical treatment or caused by a medical problem.[12]
- Take medication to increase saliva production. If your saliva production is especially low, your doctor may prescribe a medication that will increase it. There are several drugs that the doctor may prescribe, depending on your symptoms and any underlying health problems.[13]
- Salagen is commonly prescribed to help with low saliva production.
- Evoxac is a medication that is used to increase saliva production for those that have Sjögren's syndrome, which is a disease that causes dry eyes, mouth, and skin.
EditSources and Citations
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