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How to Memorize the Chess Board

According to the World Chess Federation, competitors must play on an 8-by-8 square grid where the squares alternate colors. The movement and positioning of pieces on a standard chessboard may be labeled according to descriptive or algebraic notation system. While the World Chess Federation favors a descriptive narrative in its electronic publications and manuals, algebraic notation is the player-favored form because it's easier to use. This notation system is used to announce moves during play, record the progress of games and conduct long-distance games.

Things You'll Need

Chess set
Paper bag
Marker

Instructions

- 1
  Cut the paper bag down both sides and remove the bottom.
- 2
  Open the sheet of brown paper and place the chess board on top of it so the lower right-hand square is white and there is a 1-inch margin along the left-hand side and bottom.
- 3
  Trim the right side and top of the bag.
- 4
  
  Chess rows are also called ranks.
  
  Number the rows 1 to 8 from the bottom left corner to the top.
- 5
  Write the letters A through H across the bottom margin, with one letter for each column.
- 6
  Set-up the white chess pieces on the board in front of you. From left to right, the arrangement is rook, knight, bishop, queen, king, bishop, knight and rook.
- 7
  Place the black pieces on the opposite end of the board reversing the position of the king and queen so the black queen is on a black square.
- 8
  Announce the movement of each piece using the name of the piece and the board notation. (e.g. Pawn to d3)
- 9
  Hide the margin as you become more proficient with the notation system.

Chess & Checkers