Why white on right when setting up the chessboard

I don't know what category this question should be in. Move it to the right category if necessary.

Does anyone know why there must be a white square on the right.

Besides that the rank and file labeling would be incorrect if the chessboard is setup with a black square on far right. Does it really affect the game that much and how.

thank you for your comments.

i know that setting is spelled wrong in the title. Is there anyway to correct it?

(corrected)

It doesn't affect the game. It's just that the rules state that that is the way you place a chess board.

To prevent confusion.

Many analyzers refer to "weak/strong light/dark squares", or a "phalanx of dark pawns", etc.  If the board is flipped 90 degrees, the dark squares become light, and the light become dark, and the message can get confused.

Another problem with setting up your chessboards with the dark square on the bottom left stems from the queens on colour maxim.  If somebody is relying on the maxim, and has the dark square in the left, the king would end up on d1 and the queen on e1.  Then imagine somebody else tries to play this game again but with the light square on the right.  They will play some moves just fine, but the game will stop making sense halfway through, and they will probably figure out the notation is screwed up after 5-10 moves.

It's just a convention to prevent confusion.

The sum of the effects of the two rules, "white on right and queen on color," could be stated, "At the beginning of the game, the White King is to the right of the White Queen (from the White player's perspective), and the Black King is to the left of the Black Queen (from the Black player's perspective)."  The main purposes of this are (1) it makes it possible to use a chessboard to play through a game that you have the move list from (it standardizes whether a King or Queen starts on d1, for example), and (2) eliminates the common beginner mistake of placing the Black Queen opposite the White King, and the Black King opposite the White Queen (this makes a major tactical difference even early in the opening; can you imagine trying to play the Scandinavian Defense with one side having switched King/Queen placement?).

I personally don't think it is that important!

It's because the queens would have to be on different squares, which would screw up every opening ever conceived.

It's just the standard. There's nothing more to it.

This question seems more philosophical than anything, and is a bit like asking, "why does 'A' come before 'B' in the English alphabet?" Simply put, there has to be a standard or else chaos ensues.

Someone decided that 'white on right' is the standard, and that's that. Since it is now the standard, if we don't stick to it, there is mass confusion, as other posters have alluded to.

Interestingly, if the corner square were a dark square, and the maxim were instead 'king on color', each player's bishops would be reversed... dark-squared bishop would be next to the White king and light-squared bishop would be next to the White queen, etc. Not sure whether that would matter much and don't have the energy to devote to thinking about it right now, but suffice to say that the 'white on right' standard is what we use.

It's the rule. End of story.

Additionally if Queen on own color is not followed through with white on right, then you would have the case where even playing with the white side would actually bring you the black side set up. I would think it would interfere tactically speaking. Moreover the set up allows for a standard in setting up the board, so if anyone wishes to play blind chess then they would have everything in place.

I think we just need a uniform way to set up the board is all.

Can you think of a clever rhyme for something rhyming with left ?

Besides, I have to agree that the queen on it's own color to start is fitting. However, I have seen a variant of chess where the king and queen as switched for each game. The king starting on it's own color makes sense also, to me atleast. I think it was chosen that the king be on the right also to help remember the proper set up. The king and the light are always toward the right.

does this get the dead thread revival award?

Just for you, because of your inquisition...

oy

The queen goes on its own colour so it is important to have a white square on the right so the queen is on the right side. If you have it set up with the dark square on the right corner you could easily rectify the strategy by having the black pieces move first then everything would be ok and strategically correct. 

It's getting there...

Not to keep this zombie thread going, but if you reversed the squares and kept queens on the same color, all openings and game play would be the same, but just a mirror image of what we would normally play.  Of course to keep the notation the same you'd have to reverse the letters on the board so that a1 becomes h1.

Wow this is a fun thread, I'll have to metion it in the " Silly Rules " thread that I have on the go.

I have a wooden board made by Battat which is numbered the wrong way.

It is risen! Once more with fillings!