--- title: "Starting position in chess" url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/starting-position.md" canonical_url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/starting-position" last_updated: "2026-11-07" type: "reference" summary: "The starting position is the fixed arrangement at the start of every standard game. Before the first move the board is set up the same way every time." related: ["https://georgelichess.com/glossary/piece.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/chessboard.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/chess960.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/fen.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/pawn.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rules-of-chess.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/rules-notation.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md"] --- # Starting position in chess > **For AI agents:** the complete index of GeorgeLiChess pages is [llms.txt](https://georgelichess.com/llms.txt). Every page is also served as markdown at its URL plus .md. The starting position is the fixed arrangement at the start of every standard game. Before the first move the board is set up the same way every time. The starting position is the fixed arrangement at the start of every standard game: pawns on the second and seventh ranks, pieces behind them, queens on their own color, and a light square at each player's right. Before the first move the board is set up the same way every time. The board lies between the players so that the [square](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/square.md) in the near right corner is light. White occupies ranks one and two, Black ranks seven and eight. The back rank, from the a-file to the h-file, holds rook, [knight](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/knight.md), [bishop](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop.md), queen, king, bishop, knight, rook, and a pawn stands in front of each piece on the next rank. The queens face each other on the d-file, the white queen on a light square and the black queen on a dark one, and the kings face each other on the e-file. A handy memory aid is "queen on her color". The Laws treat errors in setup seriously. If it is found that the initial position was set wrongly, the game is canceled and a new one is played. If the board is placed the wrong way round, the game goes on but the position is moved to a correctly placed board. If colors were reversed, a game with fewer than ten moves by each player is replayed. The start position is also the first test of any notation or program, because it has a fixed, known description. Also called: initial position. Also worth reading is [Chessboard](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/chessboard.md). The chessboard is the playing field for every game of chess, a large square divided into eight rows and eight columns of light and dark cells that alternate, set so the corner nearest each player's right hand is light. A neighboring idea is [FEN](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/fen.md). FEN is a compact line of text that records a chess position: the pieces rank by rank, whose turn it is, castling rights, any en passant square, and two move counters. Also worth reading is [Staunton pieces](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/staunton-pieces.md). Staunton pieces are the standard design of chess set used in tournaments, with a distinct silhouette for each piece, and the design the Laws name for the specially made boards used by visually disabled players. Once "Starting position" is familiar, the next question is what to work on at your rating, which the [improvement plans by rating band](https://georgelichess.com/improve.md) answer with game and puzzle data. ## Related terms - [Chess pieces](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/piece.md) - [Chessboard](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/chessboard.md) - [Chess960](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/chess960.md) - [FEN](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/fen.md) - [Pawn](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/pawn.md) - [Rules of chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rules-of-chess.md) ## Guides that go further - [How to choose a chess coach](https://georgelichess.com/how-to-choose-a-chess-coach.md): What to decide first, the questions to ask, what a first lesson should show and the red flags to avoid. - [How much does chess coaching cost?](https://georgelichess.com/chess-coaching-cost.md): Published rates for private, group and subscription chess coaching, with the source and the date of each. - [The first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book/first-lesson.md): A game review, a read on your level and a written study plan from George Li. ## Sources - FIDE Laws of Chess (effective 1 January 2023) (Articles 2.1 to 2.3), read 2026-10-21: https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/E012023 - FIDE Laws of Chess (effective 1 January 2023) (Articles 7.2 and 7.3), read 2026-10-21: https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/E012023 [Book your first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book.md) and George Li reviews your games and builds a study plan around them. Questions about lessons: write to hello@georgelichess.com. ## Related - [Chess pieces](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/piece.md) - [Chessboard](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/chessboard.md) - [Chess960](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/chess960.md) - [FEN in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/fen.md) - [Pawn in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/pawn.md) - [Rules of chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rules-of-chess.md) - [Chess terms: Rules, notation and equipment](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/rules-notation.md) - [Chess terms glossary: plain definitions](https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md)