Offense
The offense lines up with at least 7 checkers on the line of scrimmage with the defense having at least 6. The offense has the first move.
Blocking
The offense blocks by taking a single checker and placing that piece on top of an opponent's checker. The color of the checker on top signifies which team controls the block. It also may be used as a receiver or a ball carrier with certain restrictions. Only a single checker may enter into a block. Once a checker enters into a block on offense or defense, it cannot come out of it during that down or kickoff. The checker piece can be moved, by the team with the top checker, a single square per turn and can also be further blocked by another single checker.
Advancing the Ball
The quarterback or ball carrier moves by going into an empty square one move at a time or by jumping any of his own men in any direction. Only the quarterback or single checker that inherits the qualities of the quarterback may jump his own men and he may jump as many times on a move in any given direction as he desires. Even though the quarterback has the ability to pass or hand the ball to any of his players, only a single checker (one not involved in a block) can inherit the ability of the quarterback to pass or jump his own men. Although he may be an eligible receiver or ball carrier, a player who is given the ball but is involved in a block cannot jump his own men, or pass the football, or hand it off. Also, when the ball is received by a man in a block, the ball must remain with him until the down is completed.
Passing
In order to pass the football, there must be a passing lane or an opening for the ball to be thrown. A ball is passed by touching the quarterback or ball carrier. This will bring up the passing interface. To pass the ball take the black circle within the white circle and swipe to the desired location. It is a completion if the thumped checker hits the receiver before it hits an opponent. If the opponent is hit first, then the pass was intercepted and, at that point, it is the interceptor's move. A pass constitutes a move. Only one forward pass is allowed per down, but an unlimited amount of laterals are allowed, with each lateral constituting a move. If a lateral does not successfully hit a checker it is a live ball in the square in which it stopped. The defense has the first opportunity to move to recover. Should the defense recover, the down continues until the ball carrier is tackled. If the new offense does not score it will have the same amount of downs when stopped as if it just received the ball. The new offense will also have the opportunity to punt the ball in lieu of the down. Once the ball crosses the line of scrimmage a forward pass may not happen during that down.
Conversions
There are one and two point conversions in this game. A one point conversion is enacted by a single checker being placed on the 50 yard line. The ball must be passed and land on the goal line to earn a one point conversion. A two point conversion is enacted with the same lineup as a regular down but the checkers line up on the respective 50 yard line. The offense needs at least 7 checkers on the line of scrimmage and the defense needs at least 6.
Punting
On first down, other than the kickoff, the offense may choose to punt rather than use its only down. When a team punts, the ball will be moved four rows of squares. The receiving team actually lines up on the fifth line of squares. If the ball is punted and the fourth line of squares or less is in the opponent's endzone, the ball will then be placed on the 20 yard line.