How to set up a chess board
♟ Understanding the Chess Board: A Beginner’s Guide to the Battlefield
Before you dive into tactics, openings, or famous games, the first step in learning chess is to understand the chess board. This guide will help you grasp the basic layout, structure, and terminology of the board — your battlefield!
A chess board is a square grid made up of 64 squares, arranged in 8 rows and 8 columns. These squares alternate between light and dark colors to create a checkerboard pattern.
📏 Standard size:
- 8 ranks (horizontal rows)
- 8 files (vertical columns)
- 64 total squares (32 light, 32 dark)
Each player (White and Black) starts with 16 pieces placed on their side.
One of the golden rules in chess setup:
👉 “White on the right”
The bottom-right corner square should always be a light square — whether you’re playing online or over-the-board.
Common Mistakes to Highlight:
- Swapping the king and queen.
- Flipping the board (dark square in the wrong corner).
🤴 Kingside vs. Queenside
The board is also split vertically into two sides:
- Queenside: Files a–b–c–d (where the queen starts)
- Kingside: Files e–f–g–h (where the king starts)
Understanding this helps with concepts like castling and strategic planning.
🟩 What Is the Center of the Chess Board?
The chessboard is made up of 64 squares, but not all squares are equally important. The most critical ones lie right in the middle of the board. Almost every beginner opening principle revolves around controlling the center:
The center of the chessboard (squares e4, e5, d4, d5) is the most important battleground in chess. Controlling it gives your pieces more mobility, better attacking chances, and a stronger position.
There are two types of central squares:
1️⃣ The “True” Center (Central Four Squares – Classical center)
These are the four most powerful squares on the board:
- d4, d5, e4, e5
These squares are the heart of the battlefield. Whoever controls them often controls the pace of the game.
2️⃣ The “Extended” Center (Surrounding Squares)
The surrounding 12 squares also influence central control:
- c3, c4, c5, c6
- d3, e3, f3
- f4, f5, f6, d6, e6
Why does the center matter?
✅ Piece Mobility – Knights, bishops, and rooks control more squares from the center.
✅ King Safety – Controlling the center helps with castling and prevents enemy attacks.
✅ Flexibility – You can shift attacks to either side of the board.
Common Mistakes in Center Play
❌ Ignoring the Center – Letting your opponent dominate leads to a passive position.
❌ Overextending Pawns – Pushing too many pawns (like e4, d4, f4) can create weaknesses.
❌ Trading Central Pawns Too Early – Can lead to a loss of control.
