In a standard game of chess, each player starts with eight pawns, making a total of 16 pawns on the board at the beginning of the game. The pawns for White are placed on the second rank (a2 through h2), and the pawns for Black are placed on the seventh rank (a7 through h7)
. Thus, the total number of pawns in chess at the start is:
- 8 pawns for White
- 8 pawns for Black
- Total: 16 pawns
These pawns are the most numerous and least valuable pieces, but they play a crucial role in the game's strategy
