Article 2: The initial position of the pieces on the chessboard

2.1 The chessboard is composed of an 8 x 8 grid of 64 equal squares alternately light (the white squares) and dark (the black squares). The chessboard is placed between the players in such a way that the near corner square to the right of the player is white.

2.2 At the beginning of the game White has 16 light-coloured pieces (the white pieces); Black has 16 dark-coloured pieces (the black pieces)․ These pieces are as follows:

A white king, usually indicated by the symbol

K

A white queen, usually indicated by the symbol

Q

Two white rooks, usually indicated by the symbol

R

Two white bishops, usually indicated by the symbol

B

Two white knights, usually indicated by the symbol

N

Eight white pawns, usually indicated by the symbol

A black king, usually indicated by the symbol

K

A black queen, usually indicated by the symbol

Q

Two black rooks, usually indicated by the symbol

R

Two black bishops, usually indicated by the symbol

B

Two black kngihts, usually indicated by the symbol

N

Eight black pawns, usually indicated by the symbol

Staunton Pieces

2.3 The initial position of the pieces on the chessboard is as follows:

2.4 The eight vertical columns of squares are called files. The eight horizontal rows of squares are called ranks. A straight line of squares of the same colour, running from one edge of the board to an adjacent edge, is called a diagonal.