Chess Board Setup for Beginners: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

When you first open a chess set, you might not understand it, for sure. Because the chessboard has so many pieces and squares. And you might be thinking, where do I even start? That happens with almost everyone. Even grown-ups mix up the king and queen at the beginning.

But see, once you understand the pattern, the chess board setup becomes very easy. You won’t need to check again and again. Your hands will just place the pieces automatically.

In this guide, we are going to discuss this thing only. You will understand how you can set up your chess board in an easy way. And after reading this complete guide, you’ll be able to set up your chessboard correctly every single time.

What Is a Chess Board Setup?

When it comes to chess board setup, you only need to place all the pieces in their correct starting squares. That’s it. 

At this point in time, you are not playing. You are just arranging things properly. But this step is important. Because if the setup is wrong, the whole game goes wrong. And later, you start learning the wrong pattern. 

Many beginners make small mistakes. For example:

• Swapping the king and queen
• Keeping the board in the wrong direction
• Placing pawns on the back row by mistake
• Not remembering which piece stands where

What Comes in a Chess Board Set?

A standard chess board set has a few key components. Like the board itself is an 8×8 grid. That means 64 squares total. These squares are light and dark, mostly black and white, cream and brown. 

Each player gets 16 pieces:

• 1 King
• 1 Queen
• 2 Rooks
• 2 Bishops
• 2 Knights
• 8 Pawns

Now, when it comes to choosing a board, you've got different options. Like, there are traditional wooden boards which are so good. Plastic boards, on the other hand, are lightweight and super affordable, great for beginners or kids. But then, you've also got the modern stuff like an electronic chess board or a light-up chess board set.

Quick facts about chessboards:

• A chess board has 64 squares (8 rows × 8 columns)
• Each player starts with 16 pieces
• White always moves first in chess
• The board should be oriented, so a light square is in the bottom-right corner

Chess Board Setup Step by Step (Beginner-Friendly)

Step 1: Place the Board Properly

Before you even touch the pieces, first of all, you need to look at the board. See the bottom-right corner from your side. That square must be white. If it’s dark, just rotate the board. 

Step 2: Keep the Pawns in Line

Now take the small pieces. The pawns.

Place all eight of them in the row just in front of you. One pawn in each square. Make a straight line. That row becomes your front wall. White pawns stand on the second row. Black pawns stand on the seventh row.

Step 3: Set the Bigger Pieces

Now look at the back row. Start from the corners.

• Rooks go in the two corners.
• Next to them, place the knights.
• Then, beside the knights, place the bishops.

Now you’ll see two empty squares in the middle. The king and queen will go there. We’ll place them in the next step.

Where Does the King Go in Chess?

This is probably the most important part of the setup. The king goes on the remaining central square of its own color. 

For white pieces:

• The white king goes on e1 (the square to the right of center)
• The white queen goes on d1 (the square to the left of center)

For black pieces:

• The black king goes on e8
• The black queen goes on d8

Here's the super-easy rule: The queen goes on her own color.

Look at your queen piece. And put it on a white (light) square. If it’s black, then put it on a black (dark) square. Then the king automatically goes to the remaining center square.

Important points to remember:

• The king and queen are never swapped
• If you place the king incorrectly, the setup is wrong
• The queen is always on her matching color square
• Both kings face each other (on the e-file)
• Both queens face each other (on the d-file)

Chess Board Setup Table (Quick Reference)

Traditional vs Electronic Chess Board Setup

We've been talking about traditional boards, but let us tell you about the modern options. 

With a traditional board, you manually place each piece. And this is a very good thing that you’re touching them. But you can make mistakes, and sometimes you have to double-check all your setup.

Now, there are a lot of the best smart chess boards and electronic chess boards available in the market. That's a whole different experience. 

Types of smart boards available:

• Best electronic chess board: These have sensors that detect piece movement
• Automatic chess board: Pieces move on their own when playing against AI
• Moving chess board: Similar to automatic boards with robotic piece movement
• Best AI chess board: Connects to chess engines and learns your playing style
• Light up chessboard set: Uses LEDs to show legal moves and guide setup

The cool thing about a Chessnut chess board or Chessnut move board is that they combine traditional piece movement with modern technology. You still get that tactile feel of moving real pieces, but the board helps you learn proper setup and tracks everything digitally.

The evo chessboard is another popular option that beginners love because it literally lights up and shows you where pieces should go during setup.

Setting Up a Chess Board Online

If you want to play chess online, you don't even need to worry about a physical setup!

When you use an online chess platform or a chess board online, the pieces are already set in the correct way. This is a great way for beginners to learn proper piece placement because you see the correct setup every single time.

Digital boards auto-align all the pieces, and you can't accidentally put the king in the wrong spot. Plus, online platforms have tutorials and hints built in.

Common Chess Board Setup Mistakes to Avoid

1. The King and Queen Swapped: This is the number one mistake. Like, it happens to everyone. But remember: queen on her color!

2. The Board Rotated Incorrectly: If you don't have "white on right," your entire setup is flipped. Everything else might be correct, but the board itself is placed in the wrong way then.

3. Pawns Placed on the Wrong Rank: Sometimes, beginners put pawns on the third row instead of the second. The pawns should be on the row directly in front of your major pieces.

4. Missing Pieces in Electronic Boards: With an automatic chess board or the best electronic chess board, you need to make sure all pieces are properly calibrated and recognized by the sensors.

5. Not Calibrating Smart Boards Properly: Before you start playing on a Chessnut move board or similar device, you need to run a calibration so it recognizes each piece correctly.

Why Smart Players Choose Chessnut Chess Boards

The Chessnut chess board is designed with beginners in mind, but it's powerful enough for advanced players too. You're playing real chess, but with all the benefits of technology.

Key benefits of Chessnut boards:

• Real wooden pieces with electronic detection
• Works with AI and online play simultaneously
• Perfect setup every time (no more second-guessing)
• Beginner-friendly with guided learning features
• Compatible with major chess platforms
• Tracks your games automatically

The evo chess board and other Chessnut products use LED technology to show you legal moves, which is so helpful when you're learning. The board literally lights up to show you where each piece goes.

About Chessnut

Chessnut has been there for years now, making smart chess boards. These boards look like regular wooden boards. But inside, they have smart technology. So you still move real pieces with your hand. You still sit in front of a real board. But at the same time, the board connects to your phone or laptop and records every move.

Why Chessnut is perfect for beginners:

Accuracy: The board detects each move correctly. You don’t have to worry if something is wrong.
AI Training: There is AI support, so you can practice slowly and learn from mistakes.
Online Compatibility: You can play online using the board, not just on a screen.
Premium Build Quality: The build quality is strong, using real wood.

Final Thought: Chess Board Setup Made Simple

Chess board setup is not hard. You just need to remember a few small things. That’s all.

• White on the right. The bottom-right square must be light.
• Queen on her color. White queen on white square. Black queen on black square.
• The king stands next to the queen.
• Pawns form a straight line in front.
• Rooks in the corners. Knights beside them. Bishops next.

Once you understand this pattern in your mind, you won’t forget it.

It doesn’t matter if you use a normal wooden board, a light-up set, or even the best AI chess board. The starting setup will be the same. If you want extra help while learning, you can try an electronic chess board like the Chessnut Move board. 

FAQs: Chess Board Setup

1. Where does the king go in chess?

The king stands in the center of the back row, right next to the queen. For white, it is e1. For black, it is e8. 

2. How do beginners set up a chess board?

First of all, keep the white square on the right side. Then place all pawns in one straight line in front. Rooks go in the corners, knights next, and bishops after that. Then Queen on her color, and King beside her.

3. What is the easiest way to remember chess board setup?

The easiest way is: white on the right. Queen on her color. After that, just follow the pattern from the corners to the center. Once you do it a few times, it will be very natural for you to remember.  

4. Is a smart chess board good for beginners?

Yes, the smart chess board is a very good option for beginners. A smart chess board shows legal moves, tracks games, and connects to apps. You still move real pieces, but you also get guidance while learning.

5. What happens if the king is placed incorrectly?

If the king is in the wrong square, the setup is wrong. You should fix it before starting. Playing with a wrong setup only creates confusion later.