How to set up a chess board

No wonder Chess is a game of intelligence and strategy, but if you don’t know how to set up the chessboard for your next match, then it’s going to be hard to play. That’s why we put together this guide on how to set up a chessboard so that your next time playing will go much more smoothly.

It can be frustrating and intimidating when you’re trying to play Chess, and the pieces aren’t in the right place! Instead of worrying about where each piece goes or frantically trying to figure out which way they should face, just follow our step-by-step instructions below, and you’ll have all eight pieces perfectly placed in no time at all. Standard Chess begins with each player having 16 pieces (1 king, one queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights, and eight pawns). Each piece has its own movement rules, which make them unique to play with! In this blog post, I will go through details on how to set up a chessboard.

Here are the steps you must take in order to set up a chessboard properly:

 

Step 1: Make sure the board is set up correctly.

The first step in constructing a chess board is determining its location. The chessboard is generally made up of letters and numbers, so players should sit on the board’s edge with the letters. Make sure that the bottom-right corner is a light-colored square.

• The pieces are placed in your two horizontal rows “ranks” nearest to you. The significant components go on the first rank. On the second rank, pawns take their place.
• In Chess, every square of the board is utilized. In checkers, on the other hand, each square is utilized once.
• When preparing your chessboard, keep in mind that White is always on ranks 1 and 2, while Black is always on ranks 7 and 8.

 

 

Step 2: Placing the Rooks.

In the corners, place your rooks. The rooks (sometimes known as castles) are towering pieces that move along straight horizontal and vertical lines (known as “ranks”). Place those rooks on each of your two corners. It should be a1, h1, a8, and h8 if you are looking for the coordinates.

• On a board that is not familiar, such as Civil War sets or movie-themed components, it may be challenging to figure out what a piece is without consulting the symbols (or rule-book symbols) which may be printed on the bottom of the pieces. The symbol for a rook is shown as ♜.

Step 3: The Knights should always be positioned beside the rooks.

Knights are the next in line after rooks when it comes to arranging a chessboard. Knights, like a real knight, would ride, and are often depicted as a horse. Keep in mind that knights defend castle walls and move in an “L” formation.

The first two spaces in one direction, the next one space in another, or the first one space in one direction, and then two more in another; this is how Knights move. Knights may hop over pieces to execute their moves; only pieces are permitted to do so.

• This symbol knows the knight ♞.

 

 

Step 4: The Bishops go on to the Knights next.

When arranging the chessboard, bishops are the third piece in line on the back row. Bishops may move any number of available squares diagonally. The bishop will assist you in remembering their position. A religious figure usually officiates a real-life king’s or queen’s coronation, placing the crown on top of their head.

Bishops are worth about three pawns in Chess. They are usually active early in the game, but their long range allows them to acquire more strength if they survive until the late stage.

• The symbol for a bishop is this ♝.
• The left bishop will make its initial move on a black square (which it will always stay on). The proper bishop begins on a light square (and always stays on light).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH9Z1ORrtjQ

 

Step 5: Place the queen on the matching-color square.

By now, there should be just two squares on the first row left. The queen is always placed on the square that corresponds to the player she represents, so the White queen goes on a light or white square, and the Black queen goes on a dark one. A queen’s attire should match her footwear, which implies that she wants her gown to be regal. Queens may move any number of unblocked squares horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, combining the strengths of a rook and a bishop. Queens are theoretically worth around nine pawns in value.

• The queen’s symbol is a crown-like this ♛.

 

 

Step 6: The King finishes up the last square on the board.

Finally, for each player, there should be only one square left on the first row. The king should go there. The king can move up to one space in any direction.

The game’s primary goal is to “checkmate” the opponent’s king without losing your own; thus, kings are more valuable than all of the other pieces on the board combined, even though they are not as powerful in play. At all costs, your king must be preserved! The game is lost if you lose your king.

• The king’s symbol is a crown-like this ♚.

 

Step 7: Place the pawns along with the second rank.

There are eight pawns of each color in a chess set. They are the most minor and least valuable pieces, weighing about 1 gram each. Pawns of different colors should occupy every square on the second row.

You’ll be able to recognize the other pieces and finish the chessboard setup steps more quickly if you put the pawns on the board first.

• The pawn symbol is ♟.
• Both players are now ready to play after they have placed their pieces, as shown above.

The chess game has been played for centuries, and its popularity continues to grow. Whether you play as a hobby or want to take on the challenge of becoming an expert, we can help you learn how this complex board game works with our beginner’s guide. I’ve just explained how the pieces move, but let me know if you have any questions about setting up a chessboard. I would be happy to answer all your queries, so even if you have never played before, don’t worry! You’ll get the hang of things in no time at all.