Squares, files and ranks is lesson 1 of 3 in The chessboard, a basics course suited to players rated around 100 (complete beginners). A chessboard has 64 squares, light and dark in turn. Let's find our way around it. It has 3 interactive exercises: 3 board-square exercises. You play every move on a board and get feedback straight away. The lesson is free.
What this lesson explains
The board has 8 rows and 8 columns: 64 squares. Always turn it so that the square in the bottom-right corner is light. Remember: light on the right!
The columns are called files. They are named with letters, from a on the left to h on the right. The marked column is the e-file.
The rows are called ranks. They are numbered 1 to 8, starting from White's side at the bottom. The marked row is the 4th rank.
What you practise
Tap the light square in the bottom-right corner.
Tap every square of the a-file, the column on the far left.
Tap every square of the 1st rank, the row nearest to you.
Worked examples
Tap every square of the 1st rank, the row nearest to you. Well done. White's pieces start on this rank.
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