The Board

 

What is a chessboard?

The chessboard is a 8x8 grid, making a total of 64 squares with an alternating pattern of light and dark colors. It is similar to the board used to play checkers.

 

The chessboard has a coordinate system too. It's pretty simple.

 

Ranks

The horizontal rows of squares are called ranks, so the rows on the chess board are the 1st row, 2nd row and so on, corresponding to the numbers written on the left.

For example,

   

The highlighted squares form what is known as the 1st rank.

 

Files

The vertical columns are called files, so each column will be the a-file, b-file and so on, corresponding to the letters written on the bottom.

For example,

        

The highlighted squares form the a-file.

Coordinates

Using the corresponding row and file coordinates, we can get a unique name for each of the 64 squares on the board!

                    

 

                                                                                    

That square is the g4 square.

So, to name a square, take the name of the file it is on, then the rank and put the file name with the ranks name to get the coordinate. Easy.

Coordinates are a very important part of chess:

-Most chess websites, books and even blogs like this one, use coordinates to signify where a piece moved.

- If you speak to your friends about chess, knowing this well will help analyzing positions or even playing 'blindfold chess' (chess without any visual aids, ie the pieces)

So, the faster you can recognize squares, the better you can get at chess.

Here are a few exercises for you: What is the name of the square the white king is on?

                                    

       

Solutions:  

1)c5

2)g6

Additional Tip: For more practice on finding squares quickly: Coordinate training • lichess.org

 We now know the basics about the chessboard! Up next: The pieces