User:Fletch79/Chess board
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A chessboard is the type of checkerboard used in the game of chess, and consists of 64 squares (eight rows and eight columns) arranged in two alternating colors (light and dark). The colors are called "black" and "white" (or "light" and "dark"), although the actual colors are usually dark green and buff for boards used in competition, and often natural shades of light and dark woods for home boards. Materials vary widely; while wooden boards are generally used in high-level games, vinyl and cardboard are common for low-level and informal play. Decorative glass and marble boards are available but not usually accepted for sanctioned games.
The board is structurally similar to that used in English draughts (American checkers), although the latter is usually in red and black. Some low-cost sets (especially those sold in toy stores) may use red and black squares and include pieces for both games; though suitable for informal play, such boards are often not accepted for sanctioned play, depending on the local authority's rules on equipment standards.
The board is always placed so that the rightmost square on the row nearest each player is a "white" square. The size of the board is usually chosen to be appropriate for the
In modern commentary, the columns (called
In older English commentary, the files are labeled by the piece originally occupying its first rank (i.e. Queen, King's rook, Queen's bishop), and ranks by the numbers 1 to 8 from each player's point of view, depending on the move being described. This is called
See also
- Board representation
- Rules of chess
- White and Black in chess
- Wheat and chessboard problem
References
- Just, Tim; Burg, Daniel S. (2003), U.S. Chess Federation's Official Rules of Chess (fifth ed.), McKay, ISBN 0-8129-3559-4
External links
- FIDE rules FIDE rules on chess equipment
- Weisstein, Eric W. "Chessboard". MathWorld.
- Selecting a Chess Board
[[Category:Chess]]