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Typical Staunton wood
pieces used in a game of Chess (Fig. 1). The word
'Staunton' refers to a particular style
of Chess pieces. According to the rules
of Chess, this type is to be used for
competitions. Nathaniel Cook is credited
with the design of the pieces and the
name. Howard Staunton was an English
Chess Master (1810-1874).
One player has the
light or white pieces and the other one
has the dark or black pieces. |
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Staunton Wood Chess Pieces |
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At
the beginning of a game, each player has
16 pieces
(Fig. 2). Kings, Queens, and
Rooks are sometimes called major pieces.
Bishops and Knights are called minor
pieces. The rest of the pieces are
called Pawns. |
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Players
initiate the game with 16 pieces each |
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Typical
pieces setup and
Chessboard (Fig. 3). Make
sure to have the correct
position of the Chess pieces on the
board at the beginning of a game. |
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Staunton
Wood
Chess Pieces and Chessboard |
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Note that the white Queen should always
be placed in a light square of the board and black
Queen in a dark square of the board (Fig. 4). |
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This next
diagram shows an incorrect Queen
position
(Fig. 5). |
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The left
side of the board where both Queens are
placed is called 'Queen side of the
board' and the right side where both
Kings are placed is called 'King side of
the board' (Fig. 6). |
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Board Queen Side |
Board King Side |
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The most important
squares on the Chessboard are the four
center ones (Fig.
7). Major and minor pieces
placed there can greatly increase their
mobility, exert
considerable pressure and tend to
control more space. |
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Chess Board center
squares |
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Coordinates give a unique numeration for
all the squares on the Chessboard. The
first horizontal row of the white pieces
is used for the denomination of all
columns. The squares of such
columns are
named from left to right with the
letters: a, b, c, d, e, f, g and h. The
first vertical column is used for the
denomination of all ranks. The
squares of such ranks are named from down
to up with the numbers: 1, 2, 3,
4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (Fig. 8). |
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Board
with coordinates (White view) |
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Black
pieces should read
coordinates
letters and numbers
in reverse order:
h
to
a
and 8
to 1
(Fig. 9). |
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Board
with coordinates (Black view) |
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More
about the Chess pieces: |
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Only one (1) Chess piece is allowed to
be placed within a square.
The
player assigned the white
Chess pieces always moves
first
and afterwards, black moves. Both
players can move any legal move they
wish. Only one move per turn is
permitted and no player is allowed to
skip his next move.
2.1 Material:
Chess pieces should be made of wood, plastic or an
imitation of these materials.
2.2 Height, weight, proportions:
The King's height should be 8.5
cm.
to 10.5 cm. The diameter of the King's base should
measure 40% to 50% of its height. The size of the
other pieces should be proportionate to their height
and form; other elements such as stability,
aesthetic considerations etc., may also be taken
into account. The weight of the pieces should be
suitable for comfortable moving and stability. |
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