Worksheet: The Board and Setup

Learn the square names, the light-square-on-the-right rule, and where every piece belongs before the game starts.

Why This Matters

• Every square has a name made from a file letter and a rank number, like e4 or b7.
• Before you set up the pieces, turn the board so the light square is on the right.
• Queens start on their own color: the white queen on d1 and the black queen on d8.

Practice Tasks

1. Label the files a-h and the ranks 1-8 on a blank board.
2. Write the rule that helps you turn the board the right way before you set up the pieces.
3. Name where the white queen, white king, black queen, and black king start.

Board Evolution (One Step per Board)

Practice Positions

Find each move on paper, then check the Answer Key at the end.

Mini-Game

Play from the normal starting setup. Before every legal move, say the square name you start from and the square name you land on.

Answer Key

1. Files run left to right as a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h. Ranks run from White's side up the board as 1 through 8.
2. The board should be turned so the light square is on the right corner closest to you.
3. White queen: d1. White king: e1. Black queen: d8. Black king: e8.

Practice Position Solutions

1. Practice 1: e4 — The e-pawn starts on e2, so moving it to e4 uses the file letter and rank number exactly.
2. Practice 2: Nf6 — Knights start next to the rooks. Black's king knight begins on g8 and hops to f6.
3. Practice 3: Nf3 — Reading coordinates helps you find both the starting square (g1) and the landing square (f3).
4. Practice 4: Bb5 — Bishops travel on diagonals, so the f1 bishop reaches b5 in one smooth diagonal line.