Chessboard

The board has eight squares on each side: 32 light and 32 dark. The physical colors may be white, green, brown, or something else, but they always alternate. For correct orientation, each player must see a light square in the lower-right corner .

Every square has a fixed coordinate. The eight vertical files are labeled a through h as seen from White's side. The eight horizontal ranks are numbered 1 through 8 from that same side.

Combining the letter first and the number second gives a name such as e4. The coordinate does not change when the board is viewed from Black's side.

An oriented board with fixed coordinates

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

a1

b

c

d

e

f

g

h

h1 is the light square on White's right.

A fixed 8 by 8 grid

The board retains 64 equal squares, 32 light and 32 dark, with files a through h and ranks 1 through 8. From White's side, h1 is the light square at the near right corner. From Black's side, a8 serves the same role without changing its name or square color.

1. h1 is the light square on White's right.
2. a8 serves the same purpose for Black and always keeps the coordinate a8.

These coordinates make algebraic notation possible, a compact system for recording which piece moved and where it went. The board is also described through diagonals, slanting lines of same-colored squares. The four squares d4, d5, e4, and e5 form the core of the center, an area from which many pieces can reach more of the board.