Learn · Chapter 1. What Is Chess960
The Setup Rules
The setup in 960 is not entirely random — the chaos here is carefully ordered. There are two rules: the bishops must stand on squares of opposite colours, and the king strictly between the rooks. The pawns are immovable and always occupy their second rank. Beginners sometimes imagine that everything is shuffled at random, and take fright — needlessly: the structure of the position is preserved. Remember both rules, and none of the 960 positions will feel foreign again.
Question one. Imagine both bishops landing on light squares: half the board would be left unguarded, and that goes against the bishop's very nature. So, in the starting position the bishops are always…
Impeccable. To each bishop its own colour, to each diagonal its own master.
Question two, and it matters more than it seems. The king's placement determines the very possibility of castling to either side — which is why his spot is regulated specially. Where does the king always stand?
Correct. The king between two rooks — and both castlings are open to him. Order above all.
This is a preview — the full interactive lesson is in the app.
Free, no ads · Android 8.0+ · coming soon to Google Play