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  • Writer's pictureChess Bazaar

How to Set Up a Chess Board

If you're learning to play chess, you're in for a treat. Chess is a great way to enhance mental acuity, learn strategic techniques, and develop problem-solving skills — it can even positively affect mathematics test scores. First of all, you have a chess board with you. There are various chess boards available in the market, and the chess board cost varies. But before you can begin to play, you need to know how to set up a chessboard correctly.

Preparing to Set Up a Chess Board for Play

Luckily, learning how to set up a chess board isn't complicated, but it is crucial to get it right. Your chess board is a field of dark and light squares. You first need to position the chess board in front of yourself so that a dark square appears in the lower left corner. Once you've done this, you're ready to start placing your pieces in their proper places.

How to Set Up Chess Board Pieces

Chessboard pieces have a particular hierarchy that needs to be followed. Here is how to set up chess board pieces so they're adequately positioned:

  • Pawns: There are eight pawns for each player. Your pawns are placed in the second row from the bottom, one in each space.

  • Rooks: There are two rooks per player – they look like castles. Your two rooks go in the chessboard's bottom left and right corners.

  • Knights: You and your opponent each have two knights – they look like horseheads. Each knight is positioned next to each rook.

  • Bishops: These chess pieces have a rounded top with a line cut into it. Each player has two bishops. Each one is placed next to a knight.

  • Queen: You each have one queen. This distinctive piece is shaped like a crown. The white queen is positioned in the light square next to the bishop. The black queen sits in the dark square next to the bishop.

  • King: The king sits next to the queen in the remaining space in the first row.



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