The Role of Coordinates in Setting Up The Board

Most chess boards are equipped with coordinates for easy orientation and location of chess pieces. If we learn the basics of chess board coordinates setting up would be easier. Here are some aids on what coordinates are for.

If we look at the left and bottom edges of a chess board we would notice lined up numbers and letters. By having the line up of letters at the bottom we would see the left edge of the board with numbers from 1 to 8 from bottom up. These are what we call the "rank" coordinates. The letters from A to H, left to right, are the "file" coordinates. Together, these coordinates pinpoint where pieces are.

When learning the game from chess literature, coordinates are often used to aid in better understanding of the game through the positions of the pieces. When the literature needs to illustrate actual examples they use board coordinates for us to follow on our chess boards.

If we are first timers in chess, we can better follow instructions and pinpoint where chess pieces ought to be placed initially in the game. We can also follow how to go about techniques and strategies if we know how to use coordinates.

Chess board coordinates are especially important for setting up the correct positions of the king and queen. Beginners often commit errors where the king and queen ought to be placed; right or left?

Some think the king ought to stand to the left of the queen or vice versa. Some think the black king should always be opposite the white queen and the white king the black queen. Thus, when the game gets to mid-play and the pawns in front their kings and queens are gone, they suddenly find their kings under check by each queen without intentionally doing so. And they wonder how that happened.

The right thing to do at the start is to place the white king on E-1 and the white queen on D-1. Then have the black king and queen placed opposite them (E-8 and D-8). This way, when the pawns are gone only the queens check each other. Here, we see how coordinates make setting up simple and easy and eliminate beginner's confusion.

Chess board coordinates make chess learning accurate especially where positioning, location, and orientation is concerned. When the board is setup accurately a chess game is more easily appreciated and enjoyed. We become better players with them.