Chess rules · beginner
The Chessboard and How to Set It Up
Every square has a name, like a map.
touch_appLearn it by doing: read the short explanation, then play it on the board.
The rule
Chess is played on a board of 64 squares: 8 rows and 8 columns, in alternating light and dark colours. Place the board so that each player has a light square in the bottom-right corner.
The columns are called files and are lettered a to h, from left to right (from White's side). The rows are called ranks and are numbered 1 to 8, from White's side up.
Each square is named by its file letter then its rank number. This square is e4: file e, rank 4. You'll use these names to talk about moves.
Each side starts with 16 pieces: 8 pawns, 2 rooks, 2 knights, 2 bishops, 1 queen and 1 king. White always moves first.
From the corners inwards: rook, knight, bishop. Then the queen and king in the middle. Tip: the queen goes on her own colour. The white queen starts on the light square d1, the black queen on the dark square d8.
The pawns stand in a row in front of the pieces: White's on rank 2, Black's on rank 7.
Practise it
- The chessboard: Every square has a name, like a map.
- Setting up the pieces: Where each piece starts.
Check yourself
Tap the square e4.add
e4. File e, rank 4. One of the four centre squares.
Tap a1.add
a1. The bottom-left corner from White's side.
Tap h8.add
h8. The top-right corner from White's side.
Tap d5.add
d5. Another centre square.
Tap c7.add
c7. File c, rank 7: near Black's side.
Tap any of the four centre squares.add
d4, e4, d5, e5. d4, e4, d5 and e5. Controlling the centre is a key idea in chess.
Which piece starts in the corners?add
Rook. Rooks start in all four corners.
Where does the white queen start?add
d1. d1: the queen goes on her own colour (a light square).
Where does the white king start?add
e1. e1, next to the queen.
How many pawns does each side have?add
8. Eight pawns each, one on every file.
Who moves first?add
White. White always makes the first move.
Tips
- Letters go left to right (a–h), numbers bottom to top (1–8).
- Corners: rooks. Then knights, bishops, and the queen on her own colour.