Chessboard orientation

Chessboard orientation describes how the board must be turned before the pieces are placed. The rule is simple: each player must have a light square at the near right corner. Because the colors alternate, rotating the board by 90 degrees puts a dark square there and makes the orientation incorrect.

When coordinates are shown, correct orientation makes a1 a dark square and h1 a light square from White's side. The initial position is set up afterward. The familiar reminder 'queen on her own color' helps place the queens, but it does not replace the corner check: pieces can look orderly on a board that is still turned incorrectly.

Orientation concerns the board itself, not the viewing angle of an image or a demonstration board. A digital interface may show Black's perspective without changing the coordinates or the regulatory orientation of the represented board.