HDC Handbook
Starting Position
The starting position in HDC is symmetrical and clearly organized. Part of it immediately feels like classical chess, while another part makes it obvious that HDC is a spatial game.
This page helps you read the opening setup and recognize the most important piece locations more quickly.
Core idea of the starting setup
The opening position follows three main ideas:
- layer IV feels like the classical main board
- file E forms the vertical noble column
- pawns stand on all layers in their front ranks
Layer IV: the familiar center
On layer IV, rank 1 for White and rank 8 for Black contain the familiar main-row pieces from file A to H:
- A – Rook
- B – Knight
- C – Bishop
- D – Queen
- E – King
- F – Bishop
- G – Knight
- H – Rook
That makes the first orientation easier, because this layer feels the most familiar.
The noble column on file E
On E1–Z for White and E8–Z for Black, the noble column reads from top to bottom:
- VIII – Rook
- VII – Knight
- VI – Bishop
- V – Duke
- IV – King
- III – Bishop
- II – Knight
- I – Rook
This vertical order is one of the most distinctive features of HDC.
Pawn fronts
Pawns do not stand only on one board, but on all layers:
- White on rank 2
- Black on rank 7
That means the game begins with many spatial relationships already in place.
Piece counts per side
Each player starts with:
- 1 king
- 1 queen
- 1 Duke
- 4 rooks
- 4 bishops
- 4 knights
- 64 pawns
That is a total of 79 pieces per side.
Why the starting position matters
If you understand the setup, you more quickly see:
- why file E is so central
- which pieces control layers early
- why castling in HDC means more than king safety
- how strongly the spatial pawn structure is occupied from the start
Remember
Moves are made only on the 2D board. Especially in the opening, it helps to switch consciously between layer IV and the other layers.
Mini FAQ
Why are there so many pawns?
Because every layer has its own pawn rank.
Is the Duke part of the center?
Yes. It belongs to the central vertical structure on file E.
Is layer IV the most important starting layer?
Yes. It is the central reference layer and the most familiar one.
How many pieces does one side have?
79 pieces.