This article will explain fully how to orientate your chess board based on the numbers and letters associated with the files and ranks, before explaining the chess board notation that is used in conjunction with chess piece abbreviations for the algebraic notation<\/a> in chess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are using a chess board with numbers and letters, it is very easy to ensure the orientation of the board is correct as it would feel natural to be facing the board with Square A1 in the bottom left corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This of course works for you if you are playing white, should you be on the ‘other’ side of the board, you should ensure the H8 corner is on your bottom left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remembering those positions makes a chess board with letters and numbers easy to set up, but if you don’t have a chess board with notation, then you can always use the old rule of having a black square in the bottom left corner. That way you’ll never go wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While it is not a hard and fast rule that the white pieces<\/a> go on the 1 and 2 ranks, it kind of makes sense and is generally the case. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ranks are numbered and run up and down the board from 1 through to 8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 is the back rank for white pieces, 8 being the back rank for black pieces<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ranks 2 and 7 are where the eight pawns os each side are lined up for the beginning of the game<\/p>\n\n\n\n Check out the full chess board set up guide<\/a> for more information on chess piece starting positions<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are benefits to using a chess board with numbers and letters when also employing algebraic notation in chess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Until you have played and practiced for many hours, having the numbers and letters on the perimeter of the board can be helpful in quickly identifying the square coordinates that you have to record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some cases, you can get chess boards with the full notation to assist even further, although more commonly chess teachers and coaches<\/a> may just use stickers or have a layover template of chess board notation to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It would leave the board looking something like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here you can see the notation of every square on the chess board and how it relates to how chess moves are recorded in algebraic notation<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n For example, the White King begins on e1, and often the most popular, some would say best, opening move for white is the Kings Pawns to move two squares forward to e4<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You’ll often see the answer to the question which is the best opening<\/a> simply answered with ‘e4’ and this is how the move would be recorded, as the pawn’s final position is what is recorded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recording moves is not as simple as that as there is no piece abbreviation given to pawns as it is understood, so please do read the algebraic notation guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The simple instructions will not only help you learn how to write moves down but understanding the chess board numbers and letters will help you learn chess<\/a> much quicker in being able to use more online tools, analyze games and read chess theory more easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chess is easy to learn<\/a> when you understand these simple rules, and they only take an hour or so to learn.<\/p>\n\n\n\nChess Board Orientation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Chess Board Files and Ranks, by Numbers and Letters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/chessquestions.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/image-1.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Correct](\"https:\/\/chessquestions.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/chess-board-set-up-1024x683.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nChess Board Notation.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/chessquestions.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/image-2.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Algebraic](\"https:\/\/chessquestions.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Algebraic-Notation-1024x683.jpeg\")
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<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n3 Chess Boards with Numbers and Letters You Can Buy<\/h2>\n\n\n