Before the game starts, the players need to set up their pieces according to the standard rules. Knowing how to setup chess board is simple and helps beginners from making some common mistakes. Set up the board between the two people involved with the board set on the middle of them both and make sure a light square is on each of their right sides. Some 16 pieces are included on each side to begin a game.

By placing a rook in each of the corners of the back row. Then put a knight next to each rook and a bishop next to each knight. Next put the queen on the square that is the same colour as the piece, and next to her put the king in the remaining square. Finally, put all 8 pawns in the front row in front of the other pieces. So White will take the front two rows and Black the last two rows. Before starting, check that the board is facing the right way and both queens are opposite each other. Once all the pieces are set up, White makes the first move.