Halma
Race your pieces to the opposite corner.
↑ This is Halma running right here in your browser — no download needed.
About the game
Halma is a strategy race: move all your pieces from your starting corner to the opposite one, hopping over others to leap ahead.
How to play
Move a piece to an adjacent empty cell or jump over a neighboring piece to land beyond it, chaining jumps. Get every piece into the target zone first.
Tips & strategy
['Chain jumps to cross the board quickly.', 'Keep your group compact to move efficiently.', "Don't scatter pieces early."]
Advanced guide
Halma is won by hopping efficiently. Keep your pieces clustered so they form stepping stones for long jump chains, and move them as a compact front rather than stragglers. The first to mass all pieces in the far corner wins, so prioritize collective speed over individual dashes.
History & origins
Halma was invented in 1883 and later inspired Chinese Checkers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a hop?
Jumping over an adjacent piece to the empty cell beyond, repeatable.
Is it like Chinese Checkers?
Yes - Chinese Checkers is Halma on a star board.
How do I win?
All your pieces reach the opposite corner zone first.
Must I jump if able?
No - jumping is optional but the fastest way to travel.
Should I spread out?
No - keep pieces together so they can hop over one another.
What is the best opening?
Advance compactly and set up long jump chains.
Where can I play Halma for free?
Right on this page — Halma is embedded above, free, legal, and with no download or sign-up. Play with your keyboard on desktop or touch controls on mobile. Your best score is saved in your browser, so it's still there next time. Every game here is original or open-source, with links that stay valid.