Checkers is actually a pretty good game, and deeper than most people realize. It requires a lot of thinking at the higher levels. If you think it doesn't require any thinking, try playing a game against the computer player known as Chinook.
The program will beat you every time and this version has been dumbed down to give you a chance.
As far as "value," checkers has about as much value as chess, I suppose.
Finally, I would be surprise to learn that checkers is older than chess, meaning that chess is using checkers' board, not the other way around. 
One of the most enjoyable books I've ever read was the book
"One Jump Ahead: Challenging Human Supremacy in Checkers" by Dr. Jonathon Schaeffer. I've read it several times. It's a captivating story.
The worst game ever is probably "The Game of Life." Now there's a terrible board game.
Worst Board Game Ever!
Marion Tinsley was great. He was a big part of the above book I mentioned.
I feel like the first comment is just a set-up for the second comment.
When I was at school there was a little tough guy who was the school bully, and once him and I got kicked out of class together. He challenged me to Rock Papers Scissors, and I thought that was silly because it's not a game of skill, but he disagreed.
After several games he concluded that I was a superior opponent. He was cheating and I could see in his eyes the moments he cheated, and would cheat too.
There is no game that is free from exploitation by human intelligence. Even Rock Paper Scissors can be exploited during the milliseconds in which your hands are changing shape.
lmfao the computer has been "dumbed down" umm how much programming does it take to have every piece do the same thing, that and weird random diagonal patterns to have to remember. The game literally makes no sense and is super boring compared to chess. Its idiotic to even try and "master" this game, its too basic and lacks any mathematical calculation.
What kind of moron compares to chess or checkers to rock paper scissors which only has 3 options in one turn?
CHECKERS is the worst game ever! It has no value and is pretty stupid in my opinion. It insults chess by using its board and doesnt even require any real thinking. What a horrible thing to exist!