How To Set Up a Chess Board

Are you trying to figure out how to set up a chess board so that you will be able to start playing the game of chess? Playing chess is a lot of fun and takes a lot of skill, but once you start gaining the basic knowledge that is required to play the game you will easily become addicted. Setting up a chess board is easy to do, and once you have done it a couple of times you will be able to do it every time without even thinking about what you are doing. If you want to be able to set up a chess board the right way then make sure that you follow the instructions outlined here and you will be in good shape.

The first thing that you will want to do is make sure that the board is facing the right way. When you are setting it up the square that is in the bottom right hand corner should be light colored. If you are playing on a red and black board then this will be a red square. If you are playing with a wooden chess set then this will be a light color of wood. The easiest way to remember the way that the board is supposed to be facing is by remembering the phrase "White on the Right".

The Rooks

The first pieces that you will want to place on the board are the rooks. These are the easiest to remember because they are the pieces that are the furthest to the outside of the chess board. If your chess board has coordinates on it like the one above then you will want to place the light colored rooks on the first rank and place the dark colored rooks on the eight rank.

The Knights

Next, you will want to place the knights next to the rooks that you set up in the first step. Make sure that you place the same color next to the same color of rook that you have set up on the proper side of the board.

The Bishops

The bishops are the next pieces that you will put on your chess board. You will place the bishop right next to the knights that you have just placed. Again, make sure that the bishops are the same color as the other pieces that you have already placed on the board.

The Queens

The next chess piece that you are going to put on the board when you are learning how to set up a chess board is the Queen. You will be able to recognize the Queen because most of the time it is the second tallest piece on the board. When placing the Queen on the board a lot of people get confused about which side of the King she is supposed to go on. The easiest way to remember is to remember the phrase "Queen on own color". In other words you want to make sure that the light colored Queen is on the center square on the light square.

The Kings

The last piece that you will place on the back row is the King. You will be able to recognize the king by its distinct features. There is usually always a cross on its head and it is usually the tallest piece on the board. You will place the King in the only available spot left next to the Queen that is the same color.

The Pawns

The last pieces that you will put onto the chess board when you are setting it up are the pawns. You will know the pawns because there are more of them than there are any other pieces and they are the shortest. You will have eight of each color pawn that you will put on the row just in front of the row you just set up. Make sure that the pawns are the same color as all of the other pieces on the side of the board that you are placing them on.

You should now know how to set up a chess set. It may take you a few times of setting up your chess board before you do not have to look at the directions on how to set it up, but once you get the hang of where the different chess pieces go it will become easier for you. Remember, any time you need help to come back and follow the step by step directions on how to set up a chess board so that you will know. Also, remember that when you are looking for anything chess related, Chess Board Central is your place to shop.