To play chess, you first need to learn and memorize how to set up a chessboard correctly. After you do so, you will be able to play chess and discover how fun it really is.
Step 1
Make sure that the board is turned so that the bottom right square is a white square.
Step 2
You will see that the chess pieces come in two different colours, white and black. The two players are thus called White and Black. The chessboard is described using a notation that is a combination of numbers and letters that are defined from White's point of view. The rows (ranks) are numbered 1-8, and the columns (files) are lettered a-h in lowercase. You have to learn that if we say or write h3, it means the square defined as being in the h row, and in the third (three) column. You will find that learning this before you set up your chessboard will speed up the process.
Step 3
Learn what the names of the different pieces are.
Step 4
Place white pawns along the second row, and black ones along the seventh row.
Step 5
Place white rooks on a1 and h1, and black ones on a8 and h8.
Step 6
Place white knights on b1 and g1, and black ones on b8 and g8.
Step 7
Place white bishops on c1 and f1, and black ones on c8 and f8.
Step 8
Place a white queen on d1, and a black on on d8.
Step 9
Place a white king on e1, and a black one on e8.
Tips
- Remember that white is set up along row one and row two, while black is set up along row seven and row eight.
- If you keep messing up with where to place the king and queen, remember that the queen always goes on the square that is her color. eg. The white queen would go on a white square, and the black queen would go on a black square.
Warnings
- If you set up the chessboard incorrectly, the chess game won't work.
- Some chessboards make their chess pieces look different then other ones do. You just have to learn the names of the pieces on that chessboard too.
Things You'll Need
