A winning strategy for aligning chessboard pieces

After deciding to build a chessboard, I became concerned about how to accurately align the 64 pieces of contrasting woods. The solution: a flat and square 2×6 with a groove cut just wide enough for eight board pieces to slide into place. Apply a light coat of wax inside the groove to prevent glue squeeze-out from adhering the pieces to the jig. Make sure the pieces align flat in the jig and clamp as shown. Glue up eight such strips and then glue the eight strips together.
—Phil Andeberg, Adel, Iowa