Round 2 of 16

Board, Setup & Notation

Squares are named by file (a–h) and rank (1–8), so every square has an address like e4 — and moves are written that way.

Notation is the grandmaster’s secret language. Once you can read “e4” or “Nf3”, you can study any game ever played and write down your own.

“Letter first, number second” — file then rank. e4 = column e, row 4.

Why did the bishop stay in its lane?
Because it can only ever travel on one color of square!

Chess notation is so universal that a game recorded 150 years ago can be replayed move-for-move today, in any country.

✅ Quick check: The white queen starts on d1. Is d1 a light square or a dark square?

Say your answer out loud first — then reveal.

Call out five random squares (like “f6”, “c3”) and point to each one on a board as fast as you can.

🤸 Brain break: Coordinate call: partner names a square, you “fire” a finger-point at it — three in a row, then swap.