startposition

Startposition refers to the initial arrangement or configuration of elements at the start of a match, contest, or activity. It serves as a baseline for measurement, strategy, and evaluation of progress, and is typically fixed or standardized within a game or sport.

In chess, the Startposition is the standard setup of the board at the beginning of the game. White’s pieces occupy the back rank on a1–h1 in the order rook, knight, bishop, queen, king, bishop, knight, rook, with pawns on rank 2; Black mirrors on ranks 8 and 7. White moves first. This arrangement is symmetrical and fixed in the traditional game, defining the legal first moves and the opening phase of play. From this position there are 20 legal first moves: 16 pawn moves (each pawn can advance one or two squares) and 4 knight moves.

The Startposition underpins opening theory, piece development, king safety, and central control. Many openings begin with common first moves such as 1.e4 or 1.d4, reflecting strategic aims established from the outset.

Variants exist where the start position is altered. The best known is Chess960 (Fischer Random), which preserves the same rules but randomizes the back-rank arrangement of the pieces with certain constraints, producing many possible starting setups while keeping castling rules intact.

In other board games and sports, the term Startposition similarly denotes the initial layout or lineup and is essential for rules, balance, and strategic planning.