CHECKMATE IN ONE HOUR by Ms. Kargari

Step 1: Lay out the board with the light square in the bottom-right corner

Ms_Kargari — 2025-05-25 21:26:21 UTC

It’s important to orient the board in the right direction so that each side will be set up correctly. An easy way to remember this is “white on the right.”

Step 2: Set up the pawns on the second ranks (or rows)

Ms_Kargari — 2025-05-25 21:27:38 UTC

Putting all of your pawns on first helps.

Step 3: Put your rooks in the corners

Ms_Kargari — 2025-05-25 21:28:25 UTC

It’s easy to remember to set your rooks in the corners, just like the towers in a real castle.

Step 4: Place your knights next to your rooks

Ms_Kargari — 2025-05-25 21:29:14 UTC

Imagine that you are putting some smelly horses on the board and you want them far away from the king and queen.

Step 5: Bishops go next to knights

Ms_Kargari — 2025-05-25 21:30:33 UTC

The bishops stand between the stinky knights + the royal king and queen. Set them next to the knights.

Step 6: Your queen goes on her own color

Ms_Kargari — 2025-05-25 21:31:26 UTC

It does matter which square your queen goes on. It should go on the same color square as her army: white queen on the light square and black queen on the dark square.

Step 7: Place your king on the last square

Ms_Kargari — 2025-05-25 21:32:12 UTC

At this point there will be only one vacant square, so your king should naturally take his place

Step 8: Don’t forget, White moves first

Ms_Kargari — 2025-05-25 21:33:15 UTC

In chess, the player with the white pieces always moves first. You can decide who plays White and who plays Black through any method of chance. One way is to hide a white pawn in one hand behind your back and have your opponent choose.

Source Credit + Video Explanation

Ms_Kargari — 2025-05-25 21:35:22 UTC

MLA Citation:

Chess.com Staff. "How to Set Up a Chessboard." Chess.com, 31 Oct. 2024, https://www.chess.com/article/view/how-to-set-up-a-chessboard

Meet Your Team

Ms_Kargari — 2025-05-26 15:14:33 UTC

Create An Account & Complete the Practices to MEET YOUR TEAM!

Pawn Promotion!

Ms_Kargari — 2025-05-26 15:15:54 UTC

When a pawn reaches the end of the board it “promotes”, it turns into another piece. Most of the time players promote to a queen, but a rook, knight, or bishop is also possible.

En Passant

Ms_Kargari — 2025-05-26 15:36:44 UTC

There is one weird pawn move where a pawn makes its first move up two squares and can be captured! Watch the video to learn more.

Castling

Ms_Kargari — 2025-05-26 15:37:32 UTC

The king may move two squares to either side, with the rook moving to the other side of the king. Not legal if either piece has moved or if the king would move into, out of, or through check.