Chess Board Set Up

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STEP 1: Place the Board the Right Way Up!

As you face the Chess Board, there should be a light-square in the bottom right corner. Once that's sorted, you're ready to start adding the Pawns and Pieces.

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STEP 2: Add White's Pawns

[Clear] [a2] [b2] [c2] [d2] [e2] [f2] [g2] [h2] Add White's Pawns

First, add the 8 White Pawns, in a line, onto the 2nd Rank (row).

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STEP 3: Add Black's Pawns

[Clear] [a7] [b7] [c7] [d7] [e7] [f7] [g7] [h7] Add Black's Pawns

Next, add the 8 Black Pawns, in a line, onto the 7th Rank.

That's the Chess Board set up for the two sets of Pawns. Now it's the turn of the Pieces ...

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STEP 4: Add White's Knights

[Clear] [b1] [g1] Add White's Knights

Place one of White's Knights on the b1-square; the other White Knight goes on the g1-square.

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STEP 5: Add Black's Knights

[Clear] [b8] [g8] Add Black's Knights

Black's Knights go the mirror-opposite of White's Knights. Place one of Black's Knights on the b8-square; the other Black Knight goes on the g8-square.

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STEP 6: Add White's Bishops

[Clear] [c1] [f1] Add White's Bishops

Both Knights are placed on separate colored-squares. Place either of the White Bishops on the dark, c1-square; then the remaining White Bishop goes onto the light, f1-square.

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STEP 7: Add Black's Bishops

[Clear] [c8] [f8] Add Black's Bishops

Same again, but for Black's Knights ... One goes onto the light, c8-square, the remaining Black Bishop goes onto the dark, f8-square.

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STEP 8: Add White's Rooks

[Clear] [a1] [h1] Add White's Rooks

The Rooks go on the corner squares. Place one White Rook on the dark, a1-square; the remaining White Rook goes onto the light, h1-square.

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STEP 9: Add Black's Rooks

[Clear] [a8] [h8] Add Black's Rooks

Place one of the two Black Rooks onto the light, a8-square; the remaining Black Rook goes onto the dark, h8-square.

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STEP 10: Add White's Queen

[Clear] [d1] Add White's Queen

Nearly finished this Chess Board set up ...

Queens face each other on the inner-left half of the Board. Place the White Queen on the light, d1-square.

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STEP 11: Add Black's Queen

[Clear] [d8] Add Black's Queen

Black's Queen faces opposite White's Queen, on the dark, d8-square.

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STEP 12: Add White's King

[Clear] [e1] Add White's King

Kings, therefore, face each other on the inner-right half of the Board. Place White's King on the dark, e1-square.

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STEP 13: Add Black's King

[Clear] [e8] Add Black's King

Finally, Black's King sits on the light, e8-square, facing White's King.

And you've completed the Chess Board set up. You're ready to play a new game of Chess!

To discover more and learn how to Play Chess properly, follow the link, below, to our Beginners Chess Guide.

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From this semi-interactive Chess Board Set Up article Return to the Beginner's Chess Guide (Section 1)