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There are two opposing sides in the game of chess; The black side and the white side. This game is played only, by two people and each player receives sixteen, crucial pieces, that must be set upon the chess board, in a mirror like image.

Each side consists of: Eight pawns, two Rooks, two Knights, two Bishops, one King and one Queen.

The chess board is completely symmetrical and it consists of sixty four squares, alternating from black to white. It is easy to understand why there are eight pawns; The pawns are a simple line of defense and must all be positioned, in a straight line, giving protection to the key figures, that will be standing behind them. Sort of cannon fodder, if you will.

As the chess board consists of eight rows of eight squares, one must start by positioning one's pieces, starting with the first rows, at opposite sides of the board.

It really doesn't matter which way up, or around, the board is set in position; Although, some serious chess players, may argue that the board must be positioned, so that there is a black square to one's left.

First, you must take your two Rooks (otherwise known as Castles) and deploy one at each corner of the board in the first row. To simplify; There are four rooks in total, between the two sides and they will be occupying each corner of the board.

Take your two Knights and deploy them adjacently, to each Rook, so that you are working toward the middle of row one. Then, take your two Bishops and do the same, except this time, they will each be, three squares in, and sitting right next to the knights.

Row one is almost complete and there are two squares and two very important pieces remaining; The King and the Queen!

The positioning of the Queen may seem peculiar, but it has been a rule observed from the beginning of chess time; The Queen, must sit on her own color square!

If you happen to be the player with the black pieces and your black Bishop, just happens to be sitting on a black square? Then this will be the determining factor, that the next piece to be placed on the board, cannot be your Queen!

Obviously, the same rule applies to the white side and once the key pieces are set up, you will observe that both, the white Queen and Black Queen, will be facing each other from across the board. This rule will undoubtedly leave no question, as to where the King should be placed.

Now that the first row is in position, the remaining pieces, have their rightful place, as I mentioned previously; The pawns, all eight, will be sitting and occupying row two, completely.

Learn more about this author, Jon Coe.
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