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The official way to set up a chess board.
While there are many different ways you can set up your chess board, there is only one “official” way to set up your board. It can also be difficult to undertand and even remember how to set up your chess board.
White At The Bottom
First, remember that white always starts out at the “bottom” of the chess board. To start, the bottom left square should be a dark-colored square. Rotate your chess board until a dark-colored square is found at the bottom left corner of the board (left for the person playing as white). This square is also known as “a1″ in chess notation.
Set Up Your White Chess Pieces
Now you can begin to set up your white pieces. Place a white Rook on a1. The Rook is the piece that looks like the top to a castle. The next square to the right (from the white player’s position) is “b1″. Place a white Knight (looks like a horse) on b1. Going right, the next square (which should be dark) is c1. Place a white Bishop (the piece that has a strange chip taken out of the top) here. On d1, place your white Queen (the piece with the crown), then on e1, place your white King (the piece with the cross on top of the crown). Next, place a white Bishop, then a white Knight and finally your last white Rook on f1, g1 and h1 respectively.
Once you’ve placed your major pieces, you need to place your 8 white pawns (they should all look the same and are the smallest pieces in the set). They should all be placed on the squares between a2 and h2, just in front of your other white pieces.
Set Up Your Black Chess Pieces
Now you can set up your black chess pieces. It is easiest to set it up from the white side. Start at the top left corner. This square should be a light square and it is known as “a8″. Place a black Rook. Your next square to the right is “b8″. Place a black Knight here. Next on c8, place a black Bishop. At this point, it may seem a little backwards, but you should put your black Queen on d8, the next square to the right. On e8, place your black King, followed by your second black Bishop on f8. Next put your last black Knight on g8 and your last black Rook on h8. The pawns for black are all placed on the row in front of your current pieces, between a7 and h7.
April 11, 2011
Tags: Chess 101
Are you new to chess? Don’t worry, we’re here to help! Follow our blog to stay up-to-date in our series of the basics of chess and chess play. We’ll guide you through everything you need to know about chess from the board & pieces all the way to secret tactics and quick checkmates.
The Board
Every standard chess board features 64 squares, 32 in one color (usually white or light) and 32 in another (usually black or dark). In chess, each square is assigned a letter and number value (such as E5). The board is also divided into horizontal rows (called “rank”) and vertical columns (called “files”). Each “rank” is assigned a number 1-8, starting with 1 at the bottom. Each “file” is assigned a letter A-H, starting with A on the left side of the board. A correct game of chess begins with a dark square in the lower left corner and a light square in the lower right corner.
Buying a Chess Board
There are thousands upon thousands of different chess boards available and it can be hard to choose the correct one to buy. Boards come in every material from plastic, vinyl, wood, marble or other materials. Here at Wholesale Chess, we carry a few dozen different boards that all work in a variety of settings.
Ready to buy your first board? Make sure you get the right board! For beginners, we recommend a good vinyl or basic wood board. A Basic Vinyl Chess Board can be an excellent purchase. They are very inexpensive, come in a variety of colors, and are very durable. If you have small children, they are also great because they can handle the rigors and abuse from children. Not only are they durable, but because of their low price, they are easy to replace.
View Vinyl and Roll-Up Chess Boards
Do you need a great board that travels well? We recommend a vinyl or mouse pad chess board. These boards are specifically designed for tournament play. They roll up and are very easy to carry and transport. They also handle a lot of use very well and are inexpensive to replace. These boards are also quite standard among tournament play. The mouse pad board is different from the vinyl both in texture and finish. The mouse pad board is made from a material similar to what you’d see in a traditional computer mouse pad. The board is thicker, softer and doesn’t wrinkle or warp like the vinyl boards can.
View Vinyl and Roll-Up Chess Boards
Can’t get enough of chess at home? Get yourself a proper studying board! Many chess enthusiasts will read chess boards or watch videos with a chess board out to help them visualize concepts better. A larger tournament board can make it difficult to study because of it’s size. We recommend an analysis chess board for studying. The board is just 12″ square, making it one of the smallest boards on the market. Our analysis board is made of the basic vinyl material, is quite portable, and stores easily.
View Analysis Chess Board
High-End Chess Boards
Are you ready to buy a high-end chess board? At the upper end, chess boards come in a variety of materials and can range in price from $40 to over $1,000. First, select the type of board you would like. Wood boards are the most common to purchase, but boards can also be available in metal, marble or other stone. High-end chess boards can also come as folding sets with storage, large flat chess boards with storage compartments underneath, or simply large, flat chess boards. Most importantly, purchase a board you really like and one that looks good in your home or office setting.
Folding Chess Boards are excellent high-end boards because they save space and store well. If you’re not looking for a board to display, but still want quality, this is the way to go. Folding chess boards come in a variety of sizes, though usually between 10″ and 20″. Many sets come with chess pieces already, but some sets do require you find and purchase chess pieces on your own. Some folding chess boards also feature compartments inside for holding and storing pieces or other supplies, which some simply fold into themselves.
View Folding Chess Boards
Storage Chess Boards (sometimes called Cabinet Chess Boards) are excellent for display. They are beautiful boards that feature a compartment inside for storing pieces and supplies. The boards are all quite beautiful and will look great on a corner table or as the center piece on a coffee table. Because these boards are frequently used as displays, it’s best to be careful on wood and finish selections. Make sure you find a finish you love and will look good.
View Storage Chess Boards
Many of the most beautiful chess boards available are simple, flat boards without storage or folding. Many of these boards are hand-crafted and feature exquisite detail. There are dozens of these boards available in a wide variety of price ranges. As with storage chess boards, be careful which color and finish you choose. It’s all about personal taste and budget.
View Flat Wood Chess Boards
That’s right! You could be saving on the Premier Tournament Chess Set this weekend! Our Premier Tournament Chess Set is available Friday through Sunday, March 25 at a low $29.99 per set. Only the Ivory set is on sale. That’s a killer deal! Buy The Premier Tournament Chess Set Here.
Not interested in the whole set? The pieces are on sale, too! Only Ivory is available for the sale. Buy The Premier Chess Pieces Here.
Finding the perfect tournament chess set takes time and consideration, but it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. While there are definitely a lot of standards involved, you do have some room to make the perfect set for you.
At Wholesale Chess, you’ll find a great variety of tournament sets to get you geared up for the next big event. We have both weighted and non-weighted pieces in a variety of colors, shades, and heights. We also have many board colors, textures and weights to choose from. It can be confusing to find the right set, but we’re here to help you get started. Here are some of the industry-standard tournament sets we have available.
The most basic tournament set we have is the Quality Tournament set. This set features a basic board with 2″ squares and unweighted pieces standing at 3 3/4″ king height. The package also comes with a carry-all bag that holds the board, pieces, and a few other supplies you may want to bring along. The vinyl board is well constructed and will last for a long time. it’s quite lightweight and portable. It also comes in three colors: black, forest green, and navy blue, meaning the board and bag will be in those colors. The pieces are all black and natural colors. This set is excellent for the beginning chess player and the player on the go.
Our least expensive set with weighted pieces, the Heavy Tournament Chess Set includes pieces, the vinyl board and the carrying bag. Like the Quality Set, the Heavy Tournament Set comes in navy, black and forest green. The pieces are a set up from the Quality Set, featuring triple-weighted pieces standing at 3 3/4″ king height. The king weighs in at a hefty 52 grams, giving the pieces that comfortable, weighted feel. The board and bag are the same as used on the Quality Set. This set is our best value set for the serious tournament player.
With a slightly taller set of pieces and a mousepad board, the Executive Tournament Chess Set is a step above the Heavy Tournament set. This set features the carry-all bag, the 2″ vinyl board and a full set of Executive Staunton pieces. The board rolls very well and handles abuse quite well. The set is also available in black, navy and forest green. The pieces have an ivory color or black color and are triple weighted. The king weighs in at 45 grams, slightly lighter than the Heavy Tournament set.
Our Premier Tournament Chess Set is one of the highest quality tournament sets available. This set features our Premier pieces paired with a full-size regulation mousepad board and our Premier tournament bag. Our Premier pieces stand at a towering 4 1/8″, our pieces feature a king weight of 65 grams, making them some of the best pieces in the industry. The mousepad board features squares at 2 3/8″, and comes in three different colors: black, navy and forest green. The set also includes our 27″ premier tournament bag that can easily fit the set along with any other supplies you may need to bring. The set is highly durable and will last a long time.
The Thursday Deal of the Day is sure to please traditional chess players who like that feel of nice wood chess pieces against a wood chess board. Nothing quite like it–is there!
We are offering our American Staunton Wood Pieces in ebonized hardwood. The king stands 3 3/4 inches tall with a 1 5/8 inch base. The knight has the traditional raised head–ears laid back, teeth bared and nostrils flared–ready to do battle! This set—today only—is $42.49, half the regular MSRP. If you have been waiting for a nice wood set, now is the time.
You can also choose a compete wood set, The Kramnik Chess Gift Box. This boxed set features weighted Golden Sheesham Chess Pieces with Drawstring Bag (featuring a 3.5″ King), a folding wood Walnut & Maple Chess Board, a DGT Easy Plus Clock and a special CD featuring 120 games by the World Champion Kramnik, all in an attractive gift box. The MSRP is $154.99. Our regular everyday low price is $99.99. But today only you can get this fine set for just $63.99—an amazing value.
Today’s Thursday Deal of the Day is two of our favorite items. You can get our Premiere Set of Plastic Pieces for just $14.99 and a Hard Cover Chess Score Book for just $3.99. You can buy one or both this great deal and still take advantage of our shipping specials.
The Premiere Plastic Chess Pieces are exceptionally nice pieces, worth much more than regular low price, not to mention our Thursday Deal price. And the Hard Cover Score Book is a definite favorite with serious chess players.
This Thursday only, get a beautiful set of American Staunton Wood Chess Pieces with a 3 ¾ inch king in Sheesham. It’s not only a striking chess set, but is a bargain for the price. You can save $21 of the retail price of $59.99 Thursday Deal: Only $38.99!
You can also get the great chess book “Fearsome Four Pawns Attack” by Jerry Konikowski is one of the most prolific chess authors in the world and holds the FIDE title of Master. The retail price of this chess book is $24.95. Today only you can it for the unheard of price of just $8.99
Go to the home page and click on the link to get either—or both—of today’s chess deals.
This article, written by the manager of Wholesale Chess, was first published in The Link Homeschool Publications (Copyright, 2009). Reprinted by permission.
You see the benefits of chess and want to teach them to a child. You don’t have to be afraid of not knowing what to do or how to play. There are plenty of resources to help you.
“Remember that you are passing on a wonderful gift to them,” Mrs. Graham, manager of Wholesale Chess said. “Learn or renew your skills right along with them. Make sure you use care, patience and respect while teaching. Also, try to be interesting! Use humor, funny voices, cartwheels — whatever it takes to make your chess students pay attention and have a good time.”
Mrs. Graham suggests each child have their own chess set. It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive. Most students use a roll-up vinyl board, plastic chess pieces, either weighted or not, and an inexpensive chess bag for chess pieces to be carried in.
“Wholesale Chess has a very basic chess curriculum that we recommend to work with beginners,” she said. Only move to the next step when you know your child has a real understanding of what you have already taught.
- How the pieces move and how to setup the board
- How to capture pieces
- Check and checkmate
- More advanced rules of castling, en passant, and pawn promotion
- The values of the pieces and making good captures and trades
- Developing your pieces and controlling the center
- Using multiple pieces to attack and defend
- Basic tactics – forks and pins
- Basic strategies – controlling squares, diagonals, and files
- Basic opening principles – control key squares, activate your pieces, get your king to safety
To be a good chess parent, teacher or chess coach you must be sure to get plenty of feedback from the student, Mrs. Graham said. “Make sure you know how your children feel about chess. If they are feeling burned out, then pressuring them may just turn them off more. If they are hungry for chess and you are not feeding that, they may become frustrated.
“If you have a child who enjoys learning and playing chess, you should encourage that as much as is healthy,” she said. “Chess has great social and intellectual benefits that can affect other aspects of life, but remember that chess is a part of life, not the purpose of life. I suggest chess parents watch or read Searching for Bobby Fischer with their child. “It is a great story. We also recommend the book, Survival Guide for Chess Parents.
“Another important thing, perhaps the most important, is to always make sure that your child knows how much you love them regardless of whether they are winning or losing their chess games,” she added. “Never show disappointment at their performance — they are most likely frustrated enough on their own!”
“Chess will certainly grow in the future,” she said. “Players will have to be more accurate in play, as chess computers and training becomes more and more available. But most of us hope that the essence and fun of the game doesn’t change at all!”
WSC Note: Our Book Category has a selection of books designed for parents or chess coaches to use as well as books for children who are beginnnig to play chess to read.
Copyright 2012 Wholesale Chess. All rights reserved.
