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WORTHING CHESS CLUB

How To...? Guides

How to setup the Chessboard

Before each game of Chess, there is a specific way each board is setup for a traditional game. Starting with an empty board, this is orientated so that the White square h1 is on the right-hand side of the White Player.

From the Black Player's point of view, the White square a8 is on the right-hand side. The best way to remember this is : "The White On the Right."

`The White Side is on Ranks 1-4 and therefore the White Pieces start on Ranks 1 and 2. Conversely the Black Side is on Ranks 5-8 with the Black Pieces starting on Ranks 7 and 8. White plays Up the board and Black plays down the board however from each Player's perspective they are both playing forward up the board.

So starting with an empty board, place the Rooks in each of the corners with the colours on the correct side. (There are no intentional double-agent players in this game. White Rooks on squares a1 and h1. Black Rooks on a8 and h8.

Next place the Knights horizontally adjacent to each Rook. White Knights on squares b1 and g1. Black Knights on squares b8 and g8.

Next place the Bishops horizontally adjacent to each Knight. White Bishops on squares c1 and f1. Black Bishops on squares c8 and f8.

Next place the Queens. "Let The Lady have her own colour "Square."
So place the White Queen on square d1. Black Queen on square d8.

Then place the Kings on the last remaining free square on the back ranks. So place the White King on square e1. Black King on square e8.

Finally place the eight pawns of each colour on each square of the 2nd rank for each side in front of the already placed pieces. So place the White Pawns on squares a2 to h2. Black Pawns on squares a7 to h7.

And that's it, the game is now ready to start playing.

Note how in the starting position, each and every piece is covered or protected by at least 1 or more other pieces. So in a kind of mutual deterrent, no piece can be captured without the attacking piece being re-captured itself. The same can be said of the squares on the 3rd and 6th ranks immediately in front of each side. The line of Pawns in combination with power from the pieces on the back ranks prevent any opposing force from entering those squares.

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