user2299: When playing chess on a physical board, which way should the knights face? Sideways (as in chess diagrams) or straight ahead? If there is nothing in the rules about this, how do the professionals usually set up their knights?

user12873: The rules say nothing about this, and it varies from person to person (including among professionals). Some people place their knights facing sideways and forwards, and another popular orientation is placing them in a diagonal pointed towards the centre.
You could place them pointing backwards if you want to screw with your opponent, but I've never seen someone do this in an actual game.

user10075: There is nothing in the rules about this.
The way that grandmasters set up their knights varies from person to person.
Here is an image from the world chess championship:

Carlsen has placed his knights facing each other, and Caruana has positioned his knights facing forwards.

2299: <p>When playing chess on a physical board, which way should the knights face? Sideways (as in chess diagrams) or straight ahead? If there is nothing in the rules about this, how do the professionals usually set up their knights?</p>
 12873: <p>The rules say nothing about this, and it varies from person to person (including among professionals). Some people place their knights facing sideways and forwards, and another popular orientation is placing them in a diagonal pointed towards the centre.</p>

<p>You could place them pointing backwards if you want to screw with your opponent, but I've never seen someone do this in an actual game.</p>
 10075: <p>There is nothing in the rules about this.</p>

<p>The way that grandmasters set up their knights varies from person to person.</p>

<p>Here is an image from the world chess championship:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/192Hz.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/192Hz.jpg" alt="Carlsen and Caruana"></a></p>

<p>Carlsen has placed his knights facing each other, and Caruana has positioned his knights facing forwards.</p>
