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The board and square names

Name: __________________________ Date: __________________

Read the side to move where shown. Use a board if it helps, and explain your answer before checking the solutions.

An empty board, viewed from White’s side. Use the labels to find each square. Movement diagram, not a complete game.
An empty board, viewed from White’s side. Use the labels to find each square. Movement diagram, not a complete game.

  1. Which square is White’s bottom-right corner?

    ________________________________________________________________

  2. Write the square on file c and rank 5.

    ________________________________________________________________

  3. Do a2 and a7 share a rank or a file?

    ________________________________________________________________

  4. Which four squares form the small centre?

    ________________________________________________________________

Final check

Point to c5 and ask each pupil to write its name and explain the order.

Answers: The board and square names

  1. Which square is White’s bottom-right corner?

    h1; it is a light square.

  2. Write the square on file c and rank 5.

    c5.

  3. Do a2 and a7 share a rank or a file?

    A file: the a-file.

  4. Which four squares form the small centre?

    d4, e4, d5 and e5.

Teaching note

Watch whether pupils count ranks from White’s side. If someone reverses letter and number, ask them to point to the file before finding the rank.