8
76
5
4
3
2
1a
b
c
d
efghSet up a chess board in 4 steps
- Turn the board so each player has a light square in the right-hand corner ("light on the right").
- Rooks in the corners, then knights next to them, then bishops next to the knights.
- Queen on her own colour: the white queen on the light square d1, the black queen on the dark square d8. The king takes the last square, e1 or e8.
- Pawns fill the whole second row: rank 2 for White, rank 7 for Black.
Check: the two queens face each other on the d-file, and the two kings face each other on the e-file. White moves first.
Where each piece goes
| Piece | White | Black | How many |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rooks | a1, h1 | a8, h8 | 2 each |
| Knights | b1, g1 | b8, g8 | 2 each |
| Bishops | c1, f1 | c8, f8 | 2 each |
| Queen | d1 (light square) | d8 (dark square) | 1 each |
| King | e1 | e8 | 1 each |
| Pawns | a2 to h2 | a7 to h7 | 8 each |
Each side has 16 pieces, 32 in total, on a board of 64 squares. Files are the columns (a to h, from White's left), ranks are the rows (1 to 8, from White's side).
Common mistakes
- Board turned the wrong way: the corner square on your right must be light.
- King and queen swapped: remember "queen on her colour".
- Knights and bishops swapped: knights go next to the rooks, like horses beside the castle towers.
Questions
Which way does a chess board go?
Each player should have a light (white) square in the bottom right-hand corner.
Where does the queen go?
On the square of her own colour in the middle of the back row: the white queen on d1 (light), the black queen on d8 (dark).
Who moves first?
White always moves first. Players often draw lots or hide a pawn in each hand to decide who plays White.
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