How to Set up a Chess Board & Rules for Playing

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Need to learn how to set up a chess board? Or maybe you’re trying to remember the rules for playing a game of chess?

Either way, I’ve got you covered! This guide will walk you through the basics of how to set up a chess board and how to play chess, step by step.

Why Learn Chess?

Chess is such a fun and challenging game, but it can be tricky to remember how to set up the board—or how each piece moves.

In our house, my kids have had to teach (and re-teach!) me many times when we pull out the chess set. I love that they feel confident playing and enjoy the strategy of the game.

One of our favorite beginner-friendly sets is No Stress Chess, which uses cards to teach how each piece moves. We’ve also made our own DIY version—check out our LEGO chess set if you want a fun hands-on twist!

How to Set Up a Chess Board

Step 1: Position the Board

Place the board between players so that:

Each player has a white (light) square in the bottom-right corner

This is one of the most important setup rules!

Step 2: Understand the Board

• The chess board has 64 squares
• It is arranged in an 8×8 grid
• Squares alternate between light and dark

Each player starts with 16 pieces:

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

Step 3: Place the Pieces

Arrange the pieces like this:

Back Row (from left to right):

• Rook
• Knight
• Bishop
• Queen
• King
• Bishop
• Knight
• Rook

The queen goes on her own color

• White queen → white square
• Black queen → black square

The king goes next to the queen

Front Row:

 Place all 8 pawns in the row directly in front

Once everything is set up—you’re ready to play!

How to Play Chess

Chess is a two-player strategy game where the goal is to checkmate your opponent’s king.

Basic Rules:

• The player with the white pieces goes first
• Players take turns moving one piece at a time
• You cannot skip a turn
• You move to an empty square or capture an opponent’s piece

Capturing Pieces

You capture an opponent’s piece by:
Moving your piece onto their square

• Captured pieces are removed from the game
• Only the knight can jump over other pieces

What is Check?

A king is in check when:
It is under attack and could be captured. The player must move out of check immediately.

What is Checkmate?

Checkmate happens when:
-The king is in check AND
-There is no way to escape

Game over!

How Each Chess Piece Moves

King

Moves one square in any direction

Queen

• Moves any direction (forward, backward, sideways, diagonal)
• Can move as many squares as desired

Rook

Moves in straight lines:

• • up/down
  • left/right

Bishop

Moves diagonally any number of squares

Knight

Moves in an L-shape:

• • 2 squares in one direction
  • then 1 square over

The knight can jump over other pieces

Pawn

Moves forward 1 square

• On its first move, it can move 2 squares
• Captures diagonally

Special Chess Moves

Castling

• King and rook move together
• Must be their first move
• No pieces in between
• Cannot castle out of check

En Passant

• Special pawn capture when a pawn moves 2 spaces forward and lands beside an opponent

Pawn Promotion

When a pawn reaches the opposite side It can become a queen (or another piece)

Stalemate

A stalemate happens when:

• A player has no legal moves
• The king is NOT in check

The game ends in a draw.

Benefits of Playing Chess

Chess is more than just a game—it builds important skills like:

• Problem-solving
• Critical thinking
• Pattern recognition
• Focus and concentration
• Spatial awareness
• Logical reasoning

Some studies even suggest it can support math and reading development!

A Bit of Chess History

Chess dates back to around the 6th century, likely originating in India or Persia. It later spread to Europe, where it evolved into the modern version we play today.

The pieces represent different roles:

• King & Queen → royalty
• Bishops → the church
• Knights → mounted soldiers
• Pawns → foot soldiers

Want a Printable Version?

I’ve created a printable set that includes:

• Chess board setup guide
• How each piece moves
• Basic rules for playing

Download your printable here: