In this article we shall share the details about Chessboard Setup. The chess board is a square-shaped game board consisting of 64 smaller squares arranged in an 8×8 grid. The board is divided into light and dark squares, typically white and black or light and dark brown. The arrangement of the squares follows a specific pattern, with the light square always placed on the right side of the player facing the board.
Game Chessboard Setup
All the details for Chessboard setup are given below, so the beginner can easily understand the game and it’s setup.
Piece Placement
At the start of a game, each player has 16 pieces: 1 king, 1 queen, 2 rooks, 2 bishops, 2 knights, and 8 pawns. On the chessboard setup, the pieces are arranged in a particular order:
- The rooks are placed on the corners of the board, on the first rank (row) for White and the eighth rank for Black.
- The knights are placed next to the rooks, on the second square from the corner.
- The bishops are placed next to the knights, on the third square from the corner.
- The queen is placed on the square of her own color, meaning the white queen is placed on a light square, and the black queen is placed on a dark square.
- The king is placed on the remaining square next to the queen.
- The pawns are placed on the second rank (row) for White and the seventh rank for Black, one pawn on each file (column).
Orientation
The chessboard setup is oriented so that each player has a light square in the bottom right corner from their perspective. This ensures that the light square is always on the right side of the player facing the board.
Algebraic Notation
To identify the squares and pieces on the board, algebraic notation is used. Each square is assigned a unique name consisting of a letter (a-h) representing the file and a number (1-8) representing the rank. The files are labeled from left to right, and the ranks are labeled from bottom to top. For example, the square in the bottom left corner is called a1, and the square in the top right corner is called h8. By understanding the chessboard setup and the placement of pieces, players can effectively communicate moves, strategies, and positions during a game.
Chess Popularity around the World
Chess is a popular game played by millions of people worldwide. According to a survey conducted by You-gov, a significant percentage of the adult population in several countries has played chess at some point in their lives:
- 70% in the US, UK, Germany, Russia, and India.
- 12% in the UK currently play chess regularly.
- 15% in the US currently play chess regularly.
- 23% in Germany currently play chess regularly.
- 43% in Russia currently play chess regularly.
- 70% among the 121 million Indians considered ABC1 by advertisers currently play chess regularly.
- While Russia has the most titled chess players and highest average rating among the top 10 players.
- Iceland has the most titled players per capita due to its small population.
- India has seen a surge in chess popularity recently, riding the fever of the World Chess Championships. However, India’s large population means it is not necessarily the second most chess-playing country per capita.
Other notable chess hotbeds include:
Austria and Germany, which historically had many chess cafes.
The Philippines, which has produced strong players like Wesley So, Eugene Torre, Joey Antonio, and Mark Paragua despite limited financial support.
In summary, while Russia and India have the largest chess playing populations overall, Iceland and other smaller countries may have higher percentages of chess players per capita. The game continues to grow in popularity worldwide.
Kinds of championships for Chess held in the world.
The World Chess Championship is the premier event that determines the world champion in chess. The championship has been held in various forms over time, including both match and tournament play. Here are the different types of championships held in the world of chess:
World Chess Championship:
The main event that decides the world champion in standard or classical chess. Ding Liren, who won the 2023 World Chess Championship over Ian Nepomniachtchi, is the current world champion.
The championship has been held since 1886, with the first event being a match between Wilhelm Steinitz and Johannes Zukertort.
The format has varied over time, but currently, it is held as a match between the reigning champion and a challenger, with the challenger determined by the Candidates Tournament.
Women’s World Chess Championship:
A separate championship for women, with its own set of tournaments and matches.
World Junior Chess Championship:
A championship for players under the age of 20.
World Senior Chess Championship:
A championship for senior players, typically those over a certain age.
World Rapid Chess Championship:
A championship for rapid chess, with the current champion being Magnus Carlsen.
World Blitz Chess Championship:
A championship for blitz chess, with the current champion also being Magnus Carlsen.
Correspondence Chess Championship:
A championship for correspondence chess, where players compete through mail or electronic means.
Problem Solving Chess Championship:
A championship that focuses on solving chess problems and puzzles.
Fischer Random Chess Championship:
A championship that uses a variant of chess where the pieces are randomly arranged at the start of the game.
Computer Chess Championship:
A championship that involves computer programs competing against each other in chess matches.
These championships are organized and administered by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), ensuring a structured and competitive environment for chess players worldwide.
Most prominent players of Chess around the world.
The most prominent players in the world of chess include a mix of historical legends and current top players. Some of the most notable and prominent chess players globally are:
Magnus Carlsen:
Known as “The Reigning King” of the chess world, Magnus Carlsen is admired for his incredible skills and strategic mastery. He has won numerous titles, including the World Chess Championship multiple times.
Fabiano Caruana:
Fabiano Caruana is recognized for his deep understanding of chess theory and strategic gameplay. He has achieved high rankings and won several tournaments in his career.
Hikaru Nakamura:
Hikaru Nakamura has been one of the world’s top players for over a decade, showcasing his skills and competitiveness in the chess world.
Anish Giri:
Anish Giri, representing the Netherlands, is known for his strong chess skills and competitive spirit, making him a prominent figure in the chess community.
Ding Liren:
Ding Liren, the reigning FIDE World Chess Champion, has shown dominance and skill in his career, culminating in winning the World Championship in 2023.
Garry Kasparov:
A legendary figure in chess history, Garry Kasparov is renowned for his strategic brilliance and dominance in the chess world during his competitive years.
Bobby Fischer:
Bobby Fischer, another iconic figure, is celebrated for his exceptional talent and contributions to chess, including becoming the World Chess Champion in 1972.
Jose Raul Capablanca:
Jose Raul Capablanca, a former World Chess Champion, is remembered for his natural talent and strategic play, making him a prominent figure in chess history.
Viswanathan Anand:
Viswanathan Anand, the 15th undisputed chess champion, is considered one of the greatest Indian chess players of all time, showcasing his skills and achievements on the global stage
Vladimir Kramnik:
Vladimir Kramnik, a former World Chess Champion, is known for his strategic play and contributions to the chess world, solidifying his place among the top players globally.
These players have left a significant mark on the world of chess through their skills, achievements, and contributions to the game, solidifying their positions as some of the most prominent figures in the chess community.
Current champions of Chess in different competitions.
Current World Chess Champions
Classical World Chess Champion
Ding Liren (China) – Became the 18th undisputed World Chess Champion in 2023 after defeating Ian Nepomniachtchi.
Women’s World Chess Champion
Ju Wenjun (China) – Has held the title since 2018.
World Rapid Chess Champion
Magnus Carlsen (Norway) – Has held the title since 2014.
World Blitz Chess Champion
Magnus Carlsen (Norway) – Has held the title since 2016.
World Junior Chess Champion (Under 20)
No current champion listed, as the most recent event was the World Junior Chess Championship 2022 won by Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzbekistan).
World Senior Chess Champion (Over 50)
No current champion listed, as the most recent event was the World Senior Chess Championship 2022 won by Evgeny Sveshnikov (Russia).
So in summary, the current undisputed world champion in classical chess is Ding Liren, while Magnus Carlsen holds the rapid and blitz titles. China’s Ju Wenjun is the reigning women’s world champion. The junior and senior world champions are determined annually in separate events.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the setup of a chess board?
A chessboard setup consists of 64 squares arranged in an 8×8 grid. The squares are light and dark colored, typically white and black or light and dark brown. The light square is always placed on the right side of the player facing the board. Each player starts with 16 pieces: 1 king, 1 queen, 2 rooks, 2 bishops, 2 knights, and 8 pawns, placed in a specific order on the first two ranks.
In which countries is chess most popular?
According to surveys, chess is most popular in the following countries:
- 70% of adults have played chess in the US, UK, Germany, Russia, and India.
- 12% of adults in the UK currently play chess regularly.
- 15% of adults in the US currently play chess regularly.
- 23% of adults in Germany currently play chess regularly.
- 43% of adults in Russia currently play chess regularly.
- 70% of the 121 million Indians considered ABC1 by advertisers currently play chess regularly.
What kinds of chess championships are held worldwide?
Some of the major chess championships held worldwide include:
- World Chess Championship (classical chess).
- Women’s World Chess Championship.
- World Junior Chess Championship (under 20).
- World Senior Chess Championship (over 50).
- World Rapid Chess Championship.
- World Blitz Chess Championship.
- Correspondence Chess Championship.
- Problem Solving Chess Championship.
- Fischer Random Chess Championship.
- Computer Chess Championship.
Who are the most prominent chess players globally?
Some of the most prominent chess players worldwide include:
- Magnus Carlsen (Norway) – Current World Rapid and Blitz Chess Champion.
- Fabiano Caruana (US) – Top-ranked player known for his strategic game play.
- Hikaru Nakamura (US) – Top player for over a decade.
- Anish Giri (Netherlands) – Known for his strong skills and competitive spirit.
- Ding Liren (China) – Current undisputed World Chess Champion.
- Garry Kasparov (Russia) – Legendary former World Chess Champion.
- Bobby Fischer (US) – Iconic former World Chess Champion.
- Jose Raul Capablanca (Cuba) – Former World Chess Champion known for his natural talent.
- Viswanathan Anand (India) – 15th undisputed World Chess Champion.
- Vladimir Kramnik (Russia) – Former World Chess Champion known for his strategic play.
Who are the current champions in different chess competitions?
The current champions in various chess competitions are:
- Classical World Chess Champion: Ding Liren (China).
- Women’s World Chess Champion: Ju Wenjun (China).
- World Rapid Chess Champion: Magnus Carlsen (Norway).
- World Blitz Chess Champion: Magnus Carlsen (Norway).
- World Junior Chess Champion (Under 20): No current champion listed, most recent winner was Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzbekistan) in 2022.
- World Senior Chess Champion (Over 50): No current champion listed, most recent winner was Evgeny Sveshnikov (Russia) in 2022.