The Chessboard and Its Correct Orientation

Before learning how the pieces move and how a game is played, it is necessary to understand the chessboard, how it should be positioned, and the starting square of every piece. These elements form the alphabet of chess. Without them, we cannot read a game, describe a move, or reconstruct a position.

The chessboard is the space on which the entire game takes place. Although it has only 64 squares, an enormous number of positions and combinations can arise on it. Each square has a precise name, and every piece occupies a specific square at any given moment.

At the beginning of the game, the two players have equal forces. Each player has 16 pieces, arranged in an order established by the rules. The player with the white pieces makes the first move, after which the players alternate turns.

A precise knowledge of the board and the starting position is important not only for beginners. Experienced players also constantly use the names of squares, ranks, files, and diagonals when calculating variations, recording moves, and analyzing games.

 

The chessboard is a square divided into 64 equal squares, arranged in eight rows and eight columns. The squares alternate between two colors, traditionally called light and dark.

The actual colors of a chessboard may vary considerably. Some boards use white and black, while others use cream and brown, beige and green, or other combinations. In chess terminology, however, the squares are still called light squares and dark squares, regardless of their actual colors.

Before arranging the pieces, the board must be oriented correctly. The rule is simple:

Each player must have a light square in the corner on their right.

This rule is often remembered by the expression:

“Light square on the right.”

For the player with the white pieces, the square in the right-hand corner is h1. For the player with the black pieces, the corresponding square is a8. Both are light squares.

If the board is turned the wrong way, the pieces may be arranged in a position that appears almost correct, but the squares will no longer match their official names. As a result, a recorded game cannot be followed correctly.

On many modern boards, especially those used in tournaments or for instruction, letters and numbers are printed along the edges. These markings make orientation easier. Viewed from White’s side, the lower edge should display the letters from a to h, read from left to right.

The board is placed between the two players so that each player has two ranks of pieces in front of them. The player with the white pieces sits behind ranks 1 and 2, while the player with the black pieces sits behind ranks 8 and 7.

In online chess, the board is usually oriented automatically. When playing White, the white pieces appear at the bottom of the screen. When playing Black, the platform may rotate the board so that the black pieces appear at the bottom. The names of the squares, however, always remain the same.

It is important to understand that a square does not change its name when the board is viewed from the opposite side. The square e4 remains e4 for both White and Black.

Light Squares and Dark Squares

Of the 64 squares on the chessboard, 32 are light and 32 are dark. The color of each square is fixed.

For example:

• a1 is a dark square;
• h1 is a light square;
• a8 is a light square;
• h8 is a dark square;
• e4 is a light square;
• d4 is a dark square.

The color of a square can also be determined without looking at the board. However, beginners do not need to memorize a mathematical rule for this. The colors of the squares become familiar gradually through practice.

The color of the squares is especially important for bishops. A bishop that begins the game on a light square will remain on light squares throughout the game. A bishop that begins on a dark square can never move onto a light square.