The Chess Board is comprised of 64 squares in a boxed set up, 8 squares by 8 squares. Even though there are variations of chess which require more playing pieces and a change in the chess board, that is not the usual set up. The basic chess board set up requires the chess board to be 8 by 8 squares. Having a standard chess board and squares makes setting up the Games like chess pieces easy to do and understand.
The King and Queen are the two center chess pieces in the set up. Everything else is arranged around them. If it is a light queen put the queen on the light square, the dark queen on the dark square. This will make both queens and both kings face each other across the board. The queen moves forward, backward, sideways, or diagonally for as many squares as she can in a straight line. Yes, she has to stop when there is a chess piece in her way. The King starts out on the opponents color. The king piece can move one square in any direction, thus moving on any color he chooses.
Two Bishop Pieces are next in line. They are on either side of the King and the Queen. Bishops move diagonally only, never leaving their designated color. They may move backwards and forwards but only in a diagonal line.
The Knight pieces are beside the 2 Bishop pieces. They are the strangest pieces on the whole board. Instead of moving in straight lines, they travel in an “L” shaped form. Two squares one direction and one square at a 90 degree angle, thus making the “L”. They can go in any direction as long as they keep their form. The other quirk with this piece is that it can jump other pieces to land on its designated square. The Knight is the only piece that can attack an opponent chess piece that is surrounded.
The Rook is found on the outermost edges of the chess board set up, next to the Knights. Rooks can only go side to side and backward and forward. The Rook piece complements the Bishop piece in that it can do what the Bishop cannot do. The Bishop cannot attack going in a straight line, and the Rook cannot attack diagonally.
The Pawn piece is the least of the chess pieces. There are 8 Pawn pieces in all and they are found in the second row of each side. The Pawns can only go forward in a straight line for one square except on their first move. Only on their first move can they move 2 squares. But here is the catch. They can only attack diagonally one square. If there is a chess piece directly in front of it the pawn cannot move further. Also, the pawn is the only piece that can be exchanged for any captured piece. The goal of the pawn is to reach the other side, and once it does, it can be exchanged for a more powerful chess piece.
As you can see, setting up the chess board is quite easily done. The chess pieces are set up the same way every time. Once you learn how to put them in place and what their functions are the chess board set up becomes easily repeated each time you play chess. So, play Chess!