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  • 21 Aug, 2019

  • By, Wikipedia

Template:Chess Diagram

These templates shows a chess diagram, a graphic representation of a position in a chess game, using standardised symbols resembling the pieces of the standard Staunton chess set. The default template for a standard chess board is {{Chess diagram}}. This documentation covers all related templates.

Templates

There are several standard chess diagram templates:

There are also templates for chess variants:

Syntax

The syntax is basically the same for all chess diagram templates.

{{Chess diagram
| <alignment> (param #1)
| <header>    (#2) 
| size =
| numbers =
| letters =
| <a8> | <b8> | ... | <h8>  (#3 to ...
| <a7> | <b7> | ... | <h7>
...
| <a1> | <b1> | ... | <h1>  ( ... #66)
| <footer> (#67)
| reverse = 
}}

Parameters:

  • <alignment> – defines horizontal alignment (floating) of the whole table, must be tright or tleft (or nothing)
  • <header> – the text which appears above the diagram, may be empty;
  • size - specifies the size of each square in pixels, the default is 26.
  • numbers - specifies whether the rows are numbered. Options are: left, right, both (default) or neither.
  • letters - specifies whether the columns are lettered. Options are: top, bottom, both (default) or neither.
  • <a8>, <b8>, ... <h1> – define corresponding squares of the chessboard, see below;
  • <footer> – the text which appears beneath the diagram, may be empty; optional – can be left out (currently not in the other templates)

A square is defined by the name of piece or empty parameter. The names of the pieces are those given in algebraic notation:

  • k = king
  • q = queen
  • r = rook
  • b = bishop
  • n = knight
  • p = pawn

These letters are combined with either "l" for Light=White, or "d" for Dark=Black. So "kl" is White's king, and "nd" is Black's knight.

An empty square is written either using underscores, spaces, or nothing at all. Two spaces are recommended.

  • <space> = empty square

Fairy Chess

There are also some fairy chess pieces available. In general, there is no convention for which inverted piece to use, but in general one should use something similar to how the fairy piece moves (e.g. a camel should use an inverted knight icon).

Omega Chess pieces:

  • z = champion
  • w = wizard
  • t = fool (for Omega Chess Advanced)

Other suitable images include:

Other symbols

You can also use "xx" for a black cross, "ox" for a white cross, "xo" for a black circle on an empty square or "oo" for a white one.

  • xx = black cross/x
  • ox = white cross/x
  • xo = black circle
  • oo = white circle

When showing movement directions on the board, arrows are available

  • ul = up & left
  • ua = up
  • ur = up & right
  • la = left
  • lr = left & right
  • ud = up & down
  • ra = right
  • dl = down & left
  • db = diagonal as black
  • da = down
  • dr = down & right
  • dw = diagonal as white

Numbers can also be added to squares by using "x0" for 0, "x1" for 1, "x2" for 2, ..., "x9" for 9.

  • x0
  • x1
  • x2
  • x3
  • x4
  • x5
  • x6
  • x7
  • x8
  • x9

Examples

Standard diagram

This diagram is recommended for common use as a main diagram in the articles on chess openings, endings, games, positions etc. See the corresponding code below.

abcdefgh
8
a8 black rook
b8 black knight
c8 black bishop
d8 black queen
e8 black king
f8 black bishop
g8 black knight
h8 black rook
a7 black pawn
b7 black pawn
c7 black pawn
d7 black pawn
f7 black pawn
g7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
e5 black pawn
e4 white pawn
f4 white pawn
a2 white pawn
b2 white pawn
c2 white pawn
d2 white pawn
g2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
a1 white rook
b1 white knight
c1 white bishop
d1 white queen
e1 white king
f1 white bishop
g1 white knight
h1 white rook
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
The King's Gambit
{{Chess diagram
| tright
| 

|rd|nd|bd|qd|kd|bd|nd|rd
|pd|pd|pd|pd|  |pd|pd|pd
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |pd|  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |pl|pl|  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|pl|pl|pl|pl|  |  |pl|pl
|rl|nl|bl|ql|kl|bl|nl|rl

| The King's Gambit
}}
abcdefgh
8
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Empty board
{{Chess diagram
| tright
| 

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  

| Empty board
}}

Diagram with both captions

W. Langstaff, Chess Amateur 1922
abcdefgh
8
e8 black king
h8 black rook
f6 white bishop
h6 white pawn
d5 white rook
f5 white king
g5 black pawn
h5 white pawn
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Mate in 2
This problem uses partial retrograde analysis method.

It may be convenient to use this in the articles on chess problems. Please note that in the header and footer you can use bolds or italics. You can also use <br> to break the lines.

{{Chess diagram
| tright
| '''W. Langstaff''', ''Chess Amateur'' 1922

|  |  |  |  |kd|  |  |rd
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |bl|  |pl
|  |  |  |rl|  |kl|pd|pl
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  

| '''Mate in 2''' {{pb}}This problem uses ''partial retrograde analysis'' method.
}}

Diagram without captions

abcdefgh
8
b6 black cross
c6 black circle
d6 black cross
c5 white pawn
f4 black circle
e3 black cross
f3 black circle
g3 black cross
f2 white pawn
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh

See the corresponding code below. If you don't want the captions, just remove them, but don't delete the second "|" pipe character for the caption above; it is possible to delete the last pipe for the longer caption below.

The diagram floats to the left to illustrate the use of the first parameter.

{{Chess diagram
| tleft
| 

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |xx|xo|xx|  |  |  |  
|  |  |pl|  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |xo|  |  
|  |  |  |  |xx|xo|xx|  
|  |  |  |  |  |pl|  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  

}}

Movement example

This can be used to show how pieces move.

abcdefgh
8
c8 up arrow
c7 up arrow
a6 left arrow
b6 left arrow
c6 black rook
d6 right arrow
e6 right arrow
f6 right arrow
g6 right arrow
h6 right arrow
c5 down arrow
c4 down arrow
e4 up-left arrow
f4 up arrow
g4 up-right arrow
c3 down arrow
e3 left arrow
f3 white king
g3 right arrow
c2 down arrow
e2 down-left arrow
f2 down arrow
g2 down-right arrow
c1 down arrow
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Example showing how white king can move any direction, but only one square, while black rook can move any number of squares but only up and down, and right and left.
{{Chess diagram 
| tleft
| 

|  |  |ua|  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |ua|  |  |  |  |  
|la|la|rd|ra|ra|ra|ra|ra
|  |  |da|  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |da|  |ul|ua|ur|  
|  |  |da|  |la|kl|ra|  
|  |  |da|  |dl|da|dr|  
|  |  |da|  |  |  |  |  

|Example showing how white king can move any direction, but only one square, while black rook can move any number of squares but only up and down, and right and left.
}}
abcdefgh
8
b8 up-left arrow
d8 up arrow
f8 up-right arrow
c7 up-left arrow
d7 up arrow
e7 up-right arrow
a6 left arrow
b6 left arrow
c6 left arrow
d6 white queen
e6 right arrow
f6 right arrow
g6 right arrow
h6 right arrow
c5 down-left arrow
d5 down arrow
e5 down-right arrow
b4 down-left arrow
d4 down arrow
f4 down-right arrow
a3 down-left arrow
d3 down arrow
g3 down-right arrow
d2 down arrow
h2 down-right arrow
d1 down arrow
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
{{Chess diagram
| tright
| 

|  |ul|  |ua|  |ur|  |  
|  |  |ul|ua|ur|  |  |  
|la|la|la|ql|ra|ra|ra|ra
|  |  |dl|da|dr|  |  |  
|  |dl|  |da|  |dr|  |  
|dl|  |  |da|  |  |dr|  
|  |  |  |da|  |  |  |dr
|  |  |  |da|  |  |  |  

}}

In the board on the right, it is shown that the white queen can go any distance in any of these directions.

Another method for the rook example:

abcdefgh
8
c7 up-down arrow
b6 left-right arrow
c6 black rook
d6 left-right arrow
c5 up-down arrow
e4 up-left arrow
f4 up arrow
g4 up-right arrow
e3 left arrow
f3 white king
g3 right arrow
e2 down-left arrow
f2 down arrow
g2 down-right arrow
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
{{Chess diagram
| tleft
| 

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |ud|  |  |  |  |  
|  |lr|rd|lr|  |  |  |  
|  |  |ud|  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |ul|ua|ur|  
|  |  |  |  |la|kl|ra|  
|  |  |  |  |dl|da|dr|  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  

}}

Small diagram

This one may be useful in articles with many diagrams. It uses another template named {{Chess diagram small}}.

The small diagrams can have header, too.

abcdefgh
8
a8 black rook
d8 black queen
f8 black rook
g8 black king
a7 black pawn
b7 black pawn
e7 black pawn
f7 black pawn
g7 black bishop
h7 black pawn
b6 black knight
c6 black pawn
f6 black knight
g6 black pawn
c5 white queen
g5 white bishop
d4 white pawn
e4 white pawn
g4 black bishop
c3 white knight
f3 white knight
a2 white pawn
b2 white pawn
f2 white pawn
g2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
d1 white rook
e1 white king
f1 white bishop
h1 white rook
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Position after 11.Bg5
{{Chess diagram small
| tright
| [[The Game of the Century (chess)|The Game of the Century]]

|rd|  |  |qd|  |rd|kd|  
|pd|pd|  |  |pd|pd|bd|pd
|  |nd|pd|  |  |nd|pd|  
|  |  |ql|  |  |  |bl|  
|  |  |  |pl|pl|  |bd|  
|  |  |nl|  |  |nl|  |  
|pl|pl|  |  |  |pl|pl|pl
|  |  |  |rl|kl|bl|  |rl

| Position after 11.Bg5
}}

Different board size

Chess boards of non-standard dimensions need special templates. There are templates for the following boards:

Minichess (5×5) – Template:Chess diagram 5x5
{{Chess diagram 5x5
| tright
| 

|kd|qd|bd|nd|rd
|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd
|  |  |  |  |  
|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl
|kl|ql|bl|nl|rl

| Gardner minichess
}}
a5 black kingb5 black queenc5 black bishopd5 black knighte5 black rook
a4 black pawnb4 black pawnc4 black pawnd4 black pawne4 black pawn
a3b3c3d3e3
a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 white pawn
a1 white kingb1 white queenc1 white bishopd1 white knighte1 white rook
Gardner minichess
Los Alamos chess (6×6) – Template:Chess diagram 6x6
{{Chess diagram 6x6
| tright
| 

|rd|nd|qd|kd|nd|rd
|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd
|  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  
|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl
|rl|nl|ql|kl|nl|rl

| Los Alamos chess
}}
abcdef
6a6 black rookb6 black knightc6 black queend6 black kinge6 black knightf6 black rook6
5a5 black pawnb5 black pawnc5 black pawnd5 black pawne5 black pawnf5 black pawn5
4a4b4c4d4e4f44
3a3b3c3d3e3f33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 white pawnf2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white queend1 white kinge1 white knightf1 white rook1
abcdef
Los Alamos chess
Capablanca Chess (8×10)
{{Chess diagram 8x10
| tright
| 

|rd|nd|ad|bd|qd|kd|bd|cd|nd|rd
|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl
|rl|nl|al|bl|ql|kl|bl|cl|nl|rl

| Capablanca Chess
}}
abcdefghij
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black princessd8 black bishope8 black queenf8 black kingg8 black bishoph8 black empressi8 black knightj8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black pawne7 black pawnf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawni7 black pawnj7 black pawn7
6a6b6c6d6e6f6g6h6i6j66
5a5b5c5d5e5f5g5h5i5j55
4a4b4c4d4e4f4g4h4i4j44
3a3b3c3d3e3f3g3h3i3j33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawni2 white pawnj2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white princessd1 white bishope1 white queenf1 white kingg1 white bishoph1 white empressi1 white knightj1 white rook1
abcdefghij
Capablanca Chess
Grand Chess
{{Chess diagram 10x10
| tright
| 

|rd|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |rd
|  |nd|bd|qd|kd|cd|ad|bd|nd|  
|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl
|  |nl|bl|ql|kl|cl|al|bl|nl|  
|rl|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |rl

| Grand Chess
}}
abcdefghij
10a10 black rookb10c10d10e10f10g10h10i10j10 black rook10
9a9b9 black knightc9 black bishopd9 black queene9 black kingf9 black empressg9 black princessh9 black bishopi9 black knightj99
8a8 black pawnb8 black pawnc8 black pawnd8 black pawne8 black pawnf8 black pawng8 black pawnh8 black pawni8 black pawnj8 black pawn8
7a7b7c7d7e7f7g7h7i7j77
6a6b6c6d6e6f6g6h6i6j66
5a5b5c5d5e5f5g5h5i5j55
4a4b4c4d4e4f4g4h4i4j44
3a3 white pawnb3 white pawnc3 white pawnd3 white pawne3 white pawnf3 white pawng3 white pawnh3 white pawni3 white pawnj3 white pawn3
2a2b2 white knightc2 white bishopd2 white queene2 white kingf2 white empressg2 white princessh2 white bishopi2 white knightj22
1a1 white rookb1c1d1e1f1g1h1i1j1 white rook1
abcdefghij
Grand Chess

Double boards

Bughouse chess (four players)
{{bughouse chess diagram
| A1=Team 1, Board A 
| A2=Team 2, Board A 
| B1=Team 1, Board B 
| B2=Team 2, Board B
| tright
|

|rd|nd|bd|qd|kd|bd|nd|rd
|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl
|rl|nl|bl|ql|kl|bl|nl|rl

|rl|nl|bl|kl|ql|bl|nl|rl
|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd
|rd|nd|bd|kd|qd|bd|nd|rd

| Bughouse setup and starting position
}}


Team 2, Board A

a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8
a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7
a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5
a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3
a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2
a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1

Team 1, Board A

Team 2, Board B

a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8
a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7
a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5
a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3
a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2
a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1

Team 1, Board B

Bughouse setup and starting position
Alice Chess (two players)
{{alice chess diagram
| tright
|

|rd|nd|bd|qd|kd|  |nd|rd
|pd|pd|pd|pd|  |pd|pd|pd
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |nl|  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl
|rl|nl|bl|ql|kl|bl|  |rl

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |pd|  |  |  
|  |  |bd|  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  

| Position after 1.Nf3 e6 2.Ne5 Bc5
}}


a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8
a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7
a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5
a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3
a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2
a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1
A
a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8
a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7
a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5
a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3
a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2
a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1
B
Position after 1.Nf3 e6 2.Ne5 Bc5

Different shaped board

Three-dimensional chess (Raumschach) – Template:Raumschach diagram
{{Raumschach diagram
| tright
|

|rd|nd|kd|nd|rd
|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd
|  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  

|Nd|bd|qd|Nd|bd
|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd
|  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  

|  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  

|  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  
|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl
|bl|Nl|ql|bl|Nl

|  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  
|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl
|rl|nl|kl|nl|rl

| Raumschach starting position
}}
Ea5 black rookEb5 black knightEc5 black kingEd5 black knightEe5 black rook
Ea4 black pawnEb4 black pawnEc4 black pawnEd4 black pawnEe4 black pawn
Ea3Eb3Ec3Ed3Ee3
Ea2Eb2Ec2Ed2Ee2
Ea1Eb1Ec1Ed1Ee1
E
Da5 N dDb5 black bishopDc5 black queenDd5 N dDe5 black bishop
Da4 black pawnDb4 black pawnDc4 black pawnDd4 black pawnDe4 black pawn
Da3Db3Dc3Dd3De3
Da2Db2Dc2Dd2De2
Da1Db1Dc1Dd1De1
D
Ca5Cb5Cc5Cd5Ce5
Ca4Cb4Cc4Cd4Ce4
Ca3Cb3Cc3Cd3Ce3
Ca2Cb2Cc2Cd2Ce2
Ca1Cb1Cc1Cd1Ce1
C
Ba5Bb5Bc5Bd5Be5
Ba4Bb4Bc4Bd4Be4
Ba3Bb3Bc3Bd3Be3
Ba2 white pawnBb2 white pawnBc2 white pawnBd2 white pawnBe2 white pawn
Ba1 white bishopBb1 N lBc1 white queenBd1 white bishopBe1 N l
B
Aa5Ab5Ac5Ad5Ae5
Aa4Ab4Ac4Ad4Ae4
Aa3Ab3Ac3Ad3Ae3
Aa2 white pawnAb2 white pawnAc2 white pawnAd2 white pawnAe2 white pawn
Aa1 white rookAb1 white knightAc1 white kingAd1 white knightAe1 white rook
A
Raumschach starting position
Omega ChessTemplate:Omega Chess diagram
{{Omega Chess diagram
|
| [[Omega Chess]] (10×10 + 4 corners)

|wd                              |wd
   |zd|rd|nd|bd|qd|kd|bd|nd|rd|zd
   |pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd
   |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
   |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
   |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
   |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
   |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
   |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
   |pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl
   |zl|rl|nl|bl|ql|kl|bl|nl|rl|zl
|wl                              |wl

| Omega Chess starting position
}}
Omega Chess (10x10 + 4 corners)
w4 wd
   A

 B

 C

 D

 E

 F

 G

 H

 I

   J
w3 wd
9 a9 zd b9 rd c9 nd d9 bd e9 qd f9 kd g9 bd h9 nd i9 rd j9 zd 9
8 a8 pd b8 pd c8 pd d8 pd e8 pd f8 pd g8 pd h8 pd i8 pd j8 pd 8
7 a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7 i7 j7 7
6 a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6 i6 j6 6
5 a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5 i5 j5 5
4 a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4 i4 j4 4
3 a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3 i3 j3 3
2 a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2 i2 j2 2
1 a1 pl b1 pl c1 pl d1 pl e1 pl f1 pl g1 pl h1 pl i1 pl j1 pl 1
0 a0 zl b0 rl c0 nl d0 bl e0 ql f0 kl g0 bl h0 nl i0 rl j0 zl 0
w1 wl
<W1









W2>
w2 wl
Omega Chess starting position
Tamerlane chessTemplate:Tamerlane chess diagram
{{Tamerlane chess diagram
|
| [[Tamerlane chess]] (10×11 + 2 citadels)

   |ed|  |sd|  |md|  |md|  |sd|  |ed
|  |rd|nd|bd|Gd|gd|kd|qd|Gd|bd|nd|rd
   |pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd
   |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
   |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
   |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
   |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
   |pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl
   |rl|nl|bl|Gl|ql|kl|gl|Gl|bl|nl|rl|  
   |el|  |sl|  |ml|  |ml|  |sl|  |el

| Tamerlane chess "masculine" array starting position – see [[Tamerlane chess]] for the other two arrays

}}
Tamerlane chess (10×11 + 2 citadels)
a b c d e f g h i j k
10 a9 ed b9 c9 sd d9 e9 md f9 g9 md h9 i9 sd j9 k9 ed 10
9 x2 a8 rd b8 nd c8 bd d8 Gd e8 gd f8 kd g8 qd h8 Gd i8 bd j8 nd k8 rd 9
8 a7 pd b7 pd c7 pd d7 pd e7 pd f7 pd g7 pd h7 pd i7 pd j7 pd k7 pd 8
7 a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6 i6 j6 k6 7
6 a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5 i5 j5 k5 6
5 a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4 i4 j4 k4 5
4 a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3 i3 j3 k3 4
3 a2 pl b2 pl c2 pl d2 pl e2 pl f2 pl g2 pl h2 pl i2 pl j2 pl k2 pl 3
2 a1 rl b1 nl c1 bl d1 Gl e1 ql f1 kl g1 gl h1 Gl i1 bl j1 nl k1 rl x1 2
1 a0 el b0 c0 sl d0 e0 ml f0 g0 ml h0 i0 sl j0 k0 el 1
a b c d e f g h i j k
Tamerlane chess "masculine" array starting position – see Tamerlane chess for the other two arrays

Alternative way to place the pieces: FEN

{{Chess diagram|fen=rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR|align=tleft}}
abcdefgh
8
a8 black rook
b8 black knight
c8 black bishop
d8 black queen
e8 black king
f8 black bishop
g8 black knight
h8 black rook
a7 black pawn
b7 black pawn
c7 black pawn
d7 black pawn
e7 black pawn
f7 black pawn
g7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
a2 white pawn
b2 white pawn
c2 white pawn
d2 white pawn
e2 white pawn
f2 white pawn
g2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
a1 white rook
b1 white knight
c1 white bishop
d1 white queen
e1 white king
f1 white bishop
g1 white knight
h1 white rook
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh

It is possible to populate the board using Forsyth–Edwards Notation, instead of positional parameters.

To do this, the "fen" parameter is used. For instance, this is the opening board of a chess game, defined using the "fen" parameter "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR":

{{Chess diagram|fen=rnbqkbnr/acfghzwt/8/8/8/8/ACFGHZWT/RNBQKBNR|align=tleft}}
abcdefgh
8
a8 black rook
b8 black knight
c8 black bishop
d8 black queen
e8 black king
f8 black bishop
g8 black knight
h8 black rook
a7 black archbishop
b7 black chancellor
c7 black upside-down king
d7 black upside-down queen
e7 black upside-down pawn
f7 black champion
g7 black wizard
h7 black fool
a2 white archbishop
b2 white chancellor
c2 white upside-down king
d2 white upside-down queen
e2 white upside-down pawn
f2 white champion
g2 white wizard
h2 white fool
a1 white rook
b1 white knight
c1 white bishop
d1 white queen
e1 white king
f1 white bishop
g1 white knight
h1 white rook
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh

It is also possible to show "fairy" pieces using the FEN notation. However, because the FEN notation uses uppercase and lowercase to denote the color of the piece, it is not possible to display the inverted knight fairy piece (denoted by "N") using the fen parameter. Here is a board where the pawns are replaced by fairy pieces:

While the "fen" parameter was first developed and tested with 8x8 boards, support for other sized boards is available. For example, here is the Grand Chess starting positiong represented with an FEN board:

{{Chess diagram 10x10
 |align=tleft
 |fen=r8r/1nbqkcabn1/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/1NBQKCABN1/R8R
 |footer=[[Grand Chess]] starting position
}}
abcdefghij
10a10 black rookb10c10d10e10f10g10h10i10j10 black rook10
9a9b9 black knightc9 black bishopd9 black queene9 black kingf9 black empressg9 black princessh9 black bishopi9 black knightj99
8a8 black pawnb8 black pawnc8 black pawnd8 black pawne8 black pawnf8 black pawng8 black pawnh8 black pawni8 black pawnj8 black pawn8
7a7b7c7d7e7f7g7h7i7j77
6a6b6c6d6e6f6g6h6i6j66
5a5b5c5d5e5f5g5h5i5j55
4a4b4c4d4e4f4g4h4i4j44
3a3 white pawnb3 white pawnc3 white pawnd3 white pawne3 white pawnf3 white pawng3 white pawnh3 white pawni3 white pawnj3 white pawn3
2a2b2 white knightc2 white bishopd2 white queene2 white kingf2 white empressg2 white princessh2 white bishopi2 white knightj22
1a1 white rookb1c1d1e1f1g1h1i1j1 white rook1
abcdefghij
Grand Chess starting position

Displaying the board from the Black's point of view

{{Chess diagram|fen=rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR|align=tleft|reverse=true}}
hgfedcba
1
h1 white rook
g1 white knight
f1 white bishop
e1 white king
d1 white queen
c1 white bishop
b1 white knight
a1 white rook
h2 white pawn
g2 white pawn
f2 white pawn
e2 white pawn
d2 white pawn
c2 white pawn
b2 white pawn
a2 white pawn
h7 black pawn
g7 black pawn
f7 black pawn
e7 black pawn
d7 black pawn
c7 black pawn
b7 black pawn
a7 black pawn
h8 black rook
g8 black knight
f8 black bishop
e8 black king
d8 black queen
c8 black bishop
b8 black knight
a8 black rook
1
22
33
44
55
66
77
88
hgfedcba

The "reverse=true" parameter causes the board to be shown from Black's point of view, that is, with the h8 square at lower-left corner, and a1 at the upper-right. This works for all sizes of the normal chessboard template, but not for the Alice, Bughouse, Omega, or Raumschach templates. Here, the same FEN notation as in the previous example produces a board with Black's starting position at the bottom.

Alternative way to place the pieces: PGN

{{Chess diagram|pgn=1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 c5 4.d5 d6 5.e4 Bg7 6.Ne2 0-0 7.Nec3 Nh5 8.Bg5 Bf6 9.Bxf6 exf6 10.Qd2 f5 11.exf5 Bxf5 12.g4 Re8+ 13.Kd1 Bxb1 14.Rxb1 Qf6 15.gxh5 Qxf3+ 16.Kc2 Qxh1 17.Qf2!|align=tleft}}
abcdefgh
8
a8 black rook
b8 black knight
e8 black rook
g8 black king
a7 black pawn
b7 black pawn
f7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
d6 black pawn
g6 black pawn
c5 black pawn
d5 white pawn
h5 white pawn
c4 white pawn
c3 white knight
a2 white pawn
b2 white pawn
c2 white king
f2 white queen
h2 white pawn
b1 white rook
f1 white bishop
h1 black queen
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh

It is possible to populate the board using Portable Game Notation (PGN), instead of positional parameters or FEN. Internally, the PGN is converted to an FEN using Module:Pgn. The other parameters (align, reverse, etc) are also applicable when using PGN.