I suggest checkers, since the movement rules are a lot simpler. The pieces are also a lot simpler.
This is how I would make the checker board-
`basic setup
sync on
hide mouse
autocam off
color backdrop rgb(0,150,200)
`create checkerboard image
width=80
height=80
make memblock 1,width*height*32*4+12
write memblock dword 1,0,width
write memblock dword 1,4,height
write memblock dword 1,8,32
for x=0 to width
for y=0 to height
nx=x/(width/8)
ny=y/(height/8)
if (nx/2=nx/2.0)+(ny/2=ny/2.0)=1
write memblock dword 1,(y*width+x)*4+12,rgb(200,175,0)
else
write memblock dword 1,(y*width+x)*4+12,rgb(0,0,0)
endif
next y
next x
make image from memblock 1,1
delete memblock 1
`create brown image
make memblock 1,32*4+12
write memblock dword 1,0,1
write memblock dword 1,4,1
write memblock dword 1,8,32
write memblock dword 1,12,rgb(200,175,0)
make image from memblock 2,1
delete memblock 1
`create grey image
make memblock 1,32*4+12
write memblock dword 1,0,1
write memblock dword 1,4,1
write memblock dword 1,8,32
write memblock dword 1,12,rgb(60,60,60)
make image from memblock 3,1
delete memblock 1
`create checkerboard object
make object box 1,1000,10,1000
texture object 1,1
`create piece
make object cylinder 2,100
scale object 2,125,20,125
make object sphere 3,100
scale object 3,100,0.01,100
make mesh from object 1,3
delete object 3
add limb 2,1,1
offset limb 2,1,0,10,0
add limb 2,2,1
offset limb 2,1,0,-10,0
make mesh from object 2,2
delete object 2
`position pieces
object=2
for x=1 to 8
for y=1 to 3
if (x/2=x/2.0)+(y/2=y/2.0)=1
make object object,2,2
position object object,(x-1)*125-435,20,(y-1)*125-435
inc object
endif
next y
next x
for x=1 to 8
for y=5 to 8
if (x/2=x/2.0)+(y/2=y/2.0)=1
make object object,2,3
position object object,(x-1)*125-435,20,(y-1)*125-435
inc object
endif
next y
next x
do
sync
position camera 0,0,0
rotate camera 30,camera angle y()+0.01,0
move camera -850
loop
I hope it helps, but the memblocks will probably just confuse you. I suggest you look at the "get image" command for creating the images instead.