Basic Guide to Chessboard Setup and Starting Positions
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When beginning Chess, setting up the piece layout and understanding each role is essential. Placing each piece in its correct position lets you unlock its full potential.
A chessboard consists of a total of 64 squares, 8 squares each across and down. Both White and Black have a total of 16 pieces: 1 king, 1 queen, 2 rooks, 2 bishops, 2 knights, and 8 pawns, and the game begins with White to move first.
Board Orientation and Setting the 1st Rank
Figure 1 as text
White: King e1, Queen d1, Rook a1 h1, Bishop c1 f1, Knight b1 g1, Pawn a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2
Black: King e8, Queen d8, Rook a8 h8, Bishop c8 f8, Knight b8 g8, Pawn a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7
To move: White
Highlighted squares: h1 (focus), d1 (good), e1 (good)
FEN: rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1
This diagram shows the starting position seen by White. When positioning the board, ensure the bottom-right corner square is a light square (white square). From White's side, the bottom right is h1; from Black's side, it is a8. Both are white squares. Once oriented, place rooks on both ends of the 1st rank.
Place castle-shaped rooks on the outer edges at a1 and h1. Place horse-headed knights inward on b1 and g1, and diagonally moving bishops further inward on c1 and f1. In the central 2 squares, place the white queen on d1 and the white king on e1. Remember: queen goes on her own color.
- White on the right: The bottom-right corner from White's perspective (h1) and Black's perspective (a8) is always a white square.
- Queen on her own color: Place the white queen on the white square (d1) and the black queen on the black square (d8).
- Pawns in front: Place pawns across all 8 squares of the second row (rank 2 for White, rank 7 for Black).
Following a set order prevents mistakes. From the outer edges of the 1st rank, place rook, knight, and bishop symmetrically on both sides, then put the queen and king in the remaining 2 center squares. For White, the queen goes on d1 and the king on e1. Setting the 1st rank before placing 8 pawns on the 2nd rank makes counting pieces easier.
Black's Perspective and Board Symmetry
Figure 2 as text
White: King e1, Queen d1, Rook a1 h1, Bishop c1 f1, Knight b1 g1, Pawn a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2
Black: King e8, Queen d8, Rook a8 h8, Bishop c8 f8, Knight b8 g8, Pawn a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7
To move: White
Highlighted squares: a8 (focus), d8 (good), e8 (good)
FEN: rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1
From Black's perspective, the board is rotated 180 degrees compared to White's view. Black's king stands on e8 and the queen on d8, directly facing White's king and queen on the same files. Since Black's queen also stands on her own color (d8), the rule "queen on her own color" applies to Black as well. Knights go on b8 and g8, bishops on c8 and f8, and pawns occupy all 8 squares on rank 7.
Play in the app
Tactics stick best when practiced on the board. The AI thinks locally on your device, letting you play complete matches even without internet access.
3 Checks After Setup
- Board orientation: Is the bottom-right corner a white square (h1 for White, a8 for Black)?
- King and queen: Does the queen stand on her own color (d1 for White, d8 for Black), with the king beside her on the e-file?
- Knights and bishops: Are the knights placed next to the rooks, and the bishops next to the knights?
Common mistakes include rotating the board 90 degrees or swapping the king and queen. Misorienting the board breaks the rule of "queen on her own color," so checking the bottom-right corner and queen's square helps catch errors. Learn how each piece moves in our guide: Chess Piece Movement and Values.
Sharpen Your Skills with Mobile Matches
After learning the rules and setup, playing practical matches is the quickest path to improvement. A smartphone app makes it easy to practice in your spare time.
In Chess: Emperor Napoleon, you can enjoy offline matches against an AI that runs entirely on your device. With 6 difficulty levels from beginner to master, players of all skill levels can find a balanced opponent.
When playing against the AI, you can take back up to 3 moves per game to learn from blunders. Reviewing each move on the game score and reading post-match AI evaluations will steadily boost your playing strength.
Frequently asked questions
How can I remember where kings and queens go?
The queen always goes on her matching color. Place the white queen on d1 and the black queen on d8, then place the king right next to her.
How do I check if the chessboard orientation is correct?
Look at the bottom-right corner. It must be a light square (white square): h1 for White and a8 for Black.
Which goes on the outside, knight or bishop?
The knight is placed right next to the rook, and the bishop is placed next to the knight. For White, knights go on b1 and g1, bishops on c1 and f1.
Which rank do pawns occupy?
Pawns fill all 8 squares of the second row: rank 2 (a2 to h2) for White, and rank 7 (a7 to h7) for Black.
Play in the app
Step into Napoleon's boots across 50 historic battles in Chess: Emperor Napoleon. Free to play with optional in-app purchases.