Definition
The starting position of a game of chess is:
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | |
8 | | 8 |
7 | 7 |
6 | 6 |
5 | 5 |
4 | 4 |
3 | 3 |
2 | 2 |
1 | 1 |
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | |
Note the following:
- $(1): \quad$ The top left square is white
- $(2): \quad$ The queens start on squares of their own colours
- $(3): \quad$ White is always first to move.