How to Set Up a Chess Board

Tutorial

From Mark Weeks, Your Guide to Chess. FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

Position the board correctly

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The chess board is placed between the two players as shown in the diagram, White sitting on one side (the bottom of the diagram) and Black on the other side (the top of the diagram). Both players should see a white square in the right corner ('White on right').

If the board has numbers printed on it, they should be placed so that '1' is nearest to White and '8' is nearest to Black, as shown. If the board has the letters 'a' through 'h' printed on it, the 'a' should be on White's left. If it isn't, there's something wrong with the board!

On chess sets made of wood, the King is usually the tallest piece and has a cross on its crown. The Queen is the second tallest and has a crown with several points. The Bishop is next in size and has a miter. The Knight looks like a horse and the Rook looks like a tower. The Pawn is the smallest piece.

1. Position the board correctly
2. Place Pawns on each player's second row
3. Place the Rooks, Knights, and Bishops
4. Place the Kings and Queens
5. The board from Black's side
6. White moves first

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