How to Position the Chess Board

Chess is a very exciting board game. It is about strategy and conquest. But it all begins with opening and setting up the chess board and some basics on chess pieces. Here is a summary on how to begin a game of chess.

Most chess boards are foldable, thin rectangular wooden or metal boxes where chess pieces are stored in. Chess boards used in official games are actual tables with chess board tops. Only two players are allowed to play chess at a time. The board is placed between them and they choose between playing white or clack chess pieces. Often, two pawns, white and black, are concealed separately in each hand of a player while the other player chooses randomly a hand. Whatever pawn color is chosen becomes the player's playing piece and the one remaining will be the color of the piece for the other player.

Which side of the board should we play? It depends on the color of our chess pieces. If we play the white (or light) pieces the side of the board we play on should have the file coordinates. File coordinates are alphabets from A to H found on the bottom edge of the board. This edge should be the side we set up our chess pieces. That's setting up the chess board correctly.

If we play the black pieces, the board should be positioned such that we find numbers called "ranks" on the right side of the board numbering from 1 to 8 from top to bottom. So the first number on top is 1 and down to 8 on the bottom. If we look at the top edge of the board we find an inverted sequence of the alphabet from H to A.

Now, let's check to see if we're positioned correctly at the board. If the very last square on the right is white, we're on the right side. If not, either we're wrongly positioned or the board has been oriented erroneously. There are chess boards that are incorrectly designed though they have the rank and file coordinates reflected on them. So, before buying them, check if they're designed according to the universal chess board orientation: white square on the extreme right.

Thus, when setting up the chess board, we have to refer to the coordinates and the correct board orientation. If everything is in order, then the board is ready for the game. Next are the chess pieces, then our wit and skill in the game.