diff --git a/src/default.board b/default.board
similarity index 100%
rename from src/default.board
rename to default.board
diff --git a/src/pieces.png b/pieces.png
similarity index 100%
rename from src/pieces.png
rename to pieces.png
diff --git a/src/backend/Board.java b/src/backend/Board.java
index ab3a568..cde0f08 100644
--- a/src/backend/Board.java
+++ b/src/backend/Board.java
@@ -6,10 +6,12 @@ public class Board {
 	
 	private int width;
 	private int height;
+	private ArrayList<Piece> pieces; 
 
 	public Board(int width, int height) {
 		this.width = width;
 		this.height = height;
+		this.pieces = new ArrayList<>();
 	}
 
 	public int getWidth() {
@@ -31,16 +33,47 @@ public class Board {
 	}
 
 	public void setPiece(boolean isWhite, PieceType type, int x, int y) {
-		//TODO
-	}
-
-	public void populateBoard() {
-		//TODO
+		pieces.add(new Piece(x,y,type,isWhite));
 	}
 	
 	public void cleanBoard() {
-		//TODO
+		pieces.clear();
 	}
+
+	public void populateBoard() {
+		cleanBoard();
+
+        // 1) Pawns
+        for (int x = 0; x < width; x++) {
+            setPiece(false, PieceType.Pawn, x, 1);  // Black pawns on row 1
+            setPiece(true,  PieceType.Pawn, x, 6);  // White pawns on row 6
+        }
+
+        // 2) Rooks
+        setPiece(false, PieceType.Rook, 0, 0);
+        setPiece(false, PieceType.Rook, 7, 0);
+        setPiece(true,  PieceType.Rook, 0, 7);
+        setPiece(true,  PieceType.Rook, 7, 7);
+
+        // 3) Knights
+        setPiece(false, PieceType.Knight, 1, 0);
+        setPiece(false, PieceType.Knight, 6, 0);
+        setPiece(true,  PieceType.Knight, 1, 7);
+        setPiece(true,  PieceType.Knight, 6, 7);
+
+        // 4) Bishops
+        setPiece(false, PieceType.Bishop, 2, 0);
+        setPiece(false, PieceType.Bishop, 5, 0);
+        setPiece(true,  PieceType.Bishop, 2, 7);
+        setPiece(true,  PieceType.Bishop, 5, 7);
+
+        // 5) Queens and Kings (note: x=3 is queen, x=4 is king)
+        setPiece(false, PieceType.Queen, 3, 0);
+        setPiece(false, PieceType.King,  4, 0);
+        setPiece(true,  PieceType.Queen, 3, 7);
+        setPiece(true,  PieceType.King,  4, 7);	
+	}
+	
 	
 	public String toString() {
 		//TODO
@@ -48,9 +81,6 @@ public class Board {
 	}
 	
 	public ArrayList<Piece> getPieces() {
-		ArrayList<Piece> pieces = new ArrayList<>();
-		//TODO
-		
 		return pieces;
 	}