How to Correctly Set Up a Chessboard

Setting up a Chessboard Correctly

When it comes to the game of chess, learning how to set up a chessboard correctly is one of the first things to master.

 

Chess is a very ancient game, as many as thousands of years old. It’s believed to have been originated in India or Asia. It is a game that tests the mind, patience, and skill, and has taken some years and even decades to truly master. 

 

That being said, before you can reach the level of chess master, its first important to master correctly setting up the chessboard. (as well as knowing all the general rules of chess and how to move the chess pieces correctly.)  

 

If you found yourself asking “How do I correctly set up a chessboard? or “What is the correct way to set up a chessboard?” or “Where are the chess pieces placed on the chessboard?” you’re in the right place.

 

 

General Guidelines for Setting Up a Chessboard

Correctly setting up a chessboard can seem confusing at first, but is quite simple once you learn how to effectively set up.  

 

The one thing that makes setting up a chessboard easy, is all chess pieces are set up in a mirror pattern. This means where one piece is placed on the chess board, the same piece is placed on the opposite side. This is important to keep in mind when setting up the board.

 

This also applies to each of your own chess pieces that have a double. For example, where the rook is placed on one side of the chessboard as you will read on, the other rook is placed in the same position on the opposite side. This also applies to the knights and bishops. Keeping this in mind makes setting up a chessboard correctly much easier.  

 

Now, let’s go into detail how to correctly set up a chessboard. (Video tutorial available at bottom of article.)

 

How to Set up a Chessboard Correctly:

Setting Up The Pieces On A Chess Board

(Video tutorial also available below)

1. Placing The Rooks

When setting up the chessboard, the rooks are usually placed down first. The rooks in most sets are the pieces that look like small towers.  Rooks go on the far left and right corners of the chessboard, like in the photo below.  When setting up the chessboard, remember the rooks are towers, and are all placed in the corners as “protective” chess pieces. 

 

2. Placing The Knights

The next pieces to be placed on the chessboard are the knights. Knights (usually) look like a horses head. Knights are placed next to the rook’s. A good way to remember where to place the knight’s when setting up the chessboard is that on the first move of the knight, it should be able to move 2 spaces in front of the castle. 

 

3. Placing The Bishops

The bishops are the next pieces to be placed on the chessboard. Bishops are placed next to the Knight’s of the same color, as seen in the photo below. When setting up the chessboard, remember castle, knight bishop. That is the order to set up the chess pieces correctly from the outside of the chessboard toward the inside. 

 

4. Placing The Queen

The Queen is usually the second tallest piece in the set. When setting up the chessboard, the queen should be placed in the square of its color next to a bishop. So if your pieces are white, the queen will be placed in the white square. If your pieces are dark, it will be placed in the dark square.

A good way to remember this is “Queen On Color.” 

5. Placing The King

The king is (usually) the tallest piece in a chess set. The king can (usually) be identified by a cross on its head. The king is placed next to the queen on the opposite color. This means if your king is light, he is placed on a dark square. If your king is dark, he is placed on a light square.) 

6. Placing The Pawns

The pawns are the shortest pieces in the chess set, and also the most numerous. Each player should have 8 pawn pieces of the same color. The pawns are easy to place when setting up a chessboard. Each pawn goes in a square directly in front of all the other pieces.

 

Once all chess pieces are placed, the board should look similar to the set up below.

 

How to Correctly Set Up a Chessboard Video Tutorial

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

 

 

How to Set up A Chessboard Recap

1. Rooks go to the far left and right corners of the chessboard
2. Knight’s are placed next to the rook’s
3. Bishops are placed next to the knight’s
4. Queen on color
5. King next to queen
6. All pawns go in front

 

Things to Remember When Setting up a Chessboard: Recap

• All the same color pieces go on the same side.

• The lower-right hand corner square for each player should be a light-colored square. 

• Rooks always go in the furthest corners of the chess board

• “Queen On Color’

• Pawns are placed across the chess board in front of the other pieces

 

Now that we have learned how to set up the chessboard, let’s begin to learn about all the different pieces on the chess board and how each chess piece can be played.

 

 

How to Correctly Set Up a Chessboard Slide

 

 

Next:

Learn How To Move The Pawn In Chess