How to set up a chessboard
Orienting the board and placing the pieces when beginning a game.
Orient the Board
Before starting, it is important to orientate the board correctly. The board should be placed so that each player has a white (or light-colored) square on their right-hand corner.
A white square must be in the right-hand corner for each player.
Place the Pieces
The chess pieces are placed on the board as shown. It is important that the queens are facing each other on the correct colored square - remember the queen gets her color.
Place the playing pieces on the top and bottom two rows.
Pawns
Place all 8 pawns on the second row (rank) from each player’s perspective.
Rooks
Place a rook on each corner of the board.
Knights
Place a knight next to each rook.
Bishops
Place a bishop next to each knight.
Queens
Place the queen on the remaining square of her color (white queen on white square, black queen on black square).
Kings
Place the king on the remaining square next to the queen.