Lesson 2: THE STARTING POSITION

The game of chess is played on a checkered chessboard with 16 pieces for white and 16 pieces for black and the board is setup as indicated in the diagram position.

Take note of the green squares. It points out the light squares for both sides plus the placement of the Queens.

Important points to remember:

1. Make sure there is a white square on your right.

2. The Queen comes on her color-meaning the dark Queen on a dark square and a light Queen on a light square.
3. The King comes next to the Queen.
4. The Bishops are placed next to the Queen and King.
5. The Knights are placed next to the Bishops.
6. The Rooks are placed on the corner squares next to the knights.
7. The pawns are placed in front of the other pieces.
8. Each player have a King, Queen, 2 Rooks, 2 Bishops, 2 Knights and 8 pawns.
In lesson 3 we will look at chess notation. Yes, you can read and write chess if you know the chess notation. You can even play blindfold chess.

Lesson 1: THE CHESSBOARD

Chess is played on a chessboard which consists of 64 squares, 32 white and 32 black. Always place the chessboard between two players with a white square on the right side - "right is light" can be used to remember the chessboard placement. The chessboard is numbered A-H along the files and 1-8 along the rows. It has 8 files and 8 rows.