The 20 black men occupy squares 1 to 20; the 20 white men occupy squares 31 to 50 (2.8); Squares 21 to 30 — the two middle rows — start empty (2.8); Compliance with the starting position must be checked before the game starts; an irregularity noticed later is handled under the general irregularit...
Why people argue about this
People often assume that the starting position is only about who starts with black or white pieces, forgetting that it also dictates which squares are initially occupied by both sides. They overlook how crucially important it is for players to ensure their opponent's middle rows remain empty as per rule 2.8, leading to disputes over setup compliance.
