How to set up a chess board
Pick a piece, tap a square to place it, and press Check. You can reveal the correct setup any time, then clear the board and try it from memory.
Four rules that make it easy
- Light square on the right. Each player has a light square in the bottom-right corner.
- Rooks in the corners, then knights, then bishops. The pieces go in the order rook, knight, bishop from each edge toward the middle.
- The queen goes on her own color. White queen on a light square, black queen on a dark one. The king takes the last square.
- Pawns fill the second row. Eight pawns in front of the pieces, and the same for the other side.
Once you can place all thirty-two pieces without looking, the board will never look wrong. Practice by clearing it and rebuilding it a few times.
Cats vs Dogs Chess: 3d chess with cats and dogs
Cats vs Dogs Chess sets up the board for you. Pick a level from Kitten to Legend and start your first game.
Play Cats vs Dogs ChessLearn more
Questions
How do you set up a chess board?
Turn the board so each player has a light square in the bottom-right corner. Put the rooks in the corners, then knights, then bishops. Place the queen on her own color and the king beside her. Fill the second rank with pawns, then mirror it for the other side.
Which way does the chess board face?
A light square must be at each player's right-hand corner, the square closest to their right hand. A common reminder is "white on the right".
Where does the queen go?
The queen starts on her own color: the white queen on the light square d1 and the black queen on the dark square d8. The king takes the square next to her, e1 or e8.
How many pieces are on a chess board at the start?
Thirty-two: sixteen for each side, made up of eight pawns, two rooks, two knights, two bishops, one queen and one king.
Does it matter which side is White?
White moves first, and the board stays the same either way. Players usually choose colors by hiding a pawn in each hand.