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Setting Up the Pieces

Each side starts with 16 pieces. The pieces start in the same pattern on both sides.

The starting position

Rooks sit in the corners. Knights sit next to the rooks. Bishops sit next to the knights.

FEN: rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1

a b c d e f g h
8 r n b q k b n r 8
7 p p p p p p p p 7
6 . . . . . . . . 6
5 . . . . . . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 P P P P P P P P 2
1 R N B Q K B N R 1
  a b c d e f g h

Queen and king

The queen starts on her own colour. The king starts on the square next to the queen.

FEN: rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1

a b c d e f g h
8 r n b q k b n r 8
7 p p p p p p p p 7
6 . . . . . . . . 6
5 . . . . . . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 P P P P P P P P 2
1 R N B Q K B N R 1
  a b c d e f g h

After the first moves

White moves first. After 1. e4 e5 the pawns have left the second rank and the game has begun.

FEN: rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1

a b c d e f g h
8 r n b q k b n r 8
7 p p p p p p p p 7
6 . . . . . . . . 6
5 . . . . . . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 P P P P P P P P 2
1 R N B Q K B N R 1
  a b c d e f g h

Key points

  • The second rank holds 8 pawns for each side.
  • The first rank holds rooks in the corners, knights next to them, and bishops next to the knights.
  • The queen starts on a square of her own colour. White queen starts on d1 and Black queen starts on d8.
  • The king starts next to the queen, on e1 for White and on e8 for Black.
  • White always moves first in a game.

Try it Yourself

Edit the code, then press Run.

Running is simulated · Rust Playground

Exercise

Where does the White queen start?