To set up a chessboard correctly, follow these steps:
- Orient the board
Place the board so that a light (white) square is at the bottom-right corner from each player's perspective. Remember the phrase "white on the right" to orient the board properly
- Place the pawns
Position all 8 pawns on the second row (rank) in front of each player. White pawns go on the second rank from White's side, and Black pawns on the second rank from Black's side
- Set the rooks
Put the rooks in the corners of the first row (rank) for each player. There will be one rook on each corner square
- Add the knights
Place the knights next to the rooks, one on each side of the rooks
- Place the bishops
Bishops go next to the knights, filling the squares between the knights and the queen/king
- Position the queen
The queen must be placed on the square that matches her color: the white queen on a white square, the black queen on a black square. This is usually the fourth square from the left on the first rank
- Place the king
The king occupies the last remaining square in the first rank, next to the queen
- Remember who moves first
White always makes the first move in chess
This setup ensures that the pieces are positioned correctly for the game to proceed according to standard chess rules. The pieces should mirror each other across the board, with the kings and queens facing their counterparts directly
. In summary, the back row (first rank) for each player from left to right is: rook, knight, bishop, queen, king, bishop, knight, rook; and the second rank is filled with pawns
. This setup is fundamental for starting a fair and proper game of chess.
