Chess SetUp = Mahabharatha Battle Formation

An Akshauhini was an ancient battle formation that consisted of 21,870 chariots (Sanskrit ratha); 21,870 elephants; 65,610 cavalry and 109,350 infantry,[1] as per the Mahabharata (Adi Parva 2.15-23). The ratio is 1 chariot : 1 elephant : 3 cavalry : 5 infantry soldiers. In each of these large number groups (65,610, etc.), the digits add up to 18.

It is said that the size of Pandavas‘ army in the Kurukshetra war was 7 akshauhinis, and those of Kauravas 11 akshauhinis. An ‘Akshauhini‘ is a combination of certain count of of elephants, chariots, horses and foot-soldiers.

The count is arrived as follows:
One elephant (Gaj), one chariot (Rath), three horses (Ashwa) and five foot soldiers (Padhat) form a Patti;
Three Pattis form a Sena-Mukha; three Sena-Mukhas make a Gulma; three Gulmas a Gana;
three Ganas a Vahini;three Vahinis a Pruthana;three Pruthanas a Chamu;three Chamus a Anikini;
ten Anikinis form a Akshauhini. Thus an Akshauhini, by calculation, contains 21,870 elephants, 21,870 chariots, 65,610 Horses, and 109,350 foot soldiers.

Kuru Army: of 11 Akshauhinis is formed by the kingdom of Hastinapura in alliance with races like the Samshaptakas, Trigartas, the Narayana army, the Sindhu army and Shalya of Madra.  

Commanders in Chief: Bhishma (10 days), Drona (5 days), Karna (2 days), Shalya (1 day), Ashwathama (after Duryodhan loses the mace match with Bhim)
Atirathi: Somadatta, Bhurishravas, Bhagadatta, Jayadratha, Kritavarma, Shakuni, 99 brothers of Duryodhana  
Maharathi: Ashwathama, Shrutyudha, Shalya, Duryodhana, Kripacharya  
Atimaharathi: Bhishma,Drona,Karna.

Kaurava Army and Duryodhana's side:   

    Bhagdatta the veteran - 1 Akshauhini  
    Salya, king of Madra - 1 Akshauhini  
    Bhoorisravas - 1 Akshauhini  
    Kritavarma (Krishna's Narayani sena of Yadavas) - 1 Akshauhini  
    Jayadratha (Saindhava) - 1 Akshauhini  
    Sudakshina, king of Kambhoja - 1 Akshauhini (has Yavanas & Sakas in his troops)  
    Vinda and Anuvinda (from Avanti) - 1 Akshauhini  
    Nila, of Mahishmati - 1 Akshauhini (from south)  
    Five Kekaya brothers - 1 Akshauhini  
    Kuru's own army and others - 2 Akshauhinis all put together (some say 3 divisions)

Pandava Army: is a coalition of 7 Akshauhinis, primarily the Panchala and Matsya forces, the Rakshasa forces of Bhima's son, and Vrishni-Yadava heroes.  

Commanders in Chief: Dhristadyumna  
    Atirathi: Ghatotkacha, Satyaki, Yuyutsu, Dhrupad, Viraat, Uttar  
    Maharathi: Bhima, Abhimanyu,Nakul,Sahadev,Yudhistra,Dristadyumna.  
    Atimaharathi: Arjuna.  
    Mahamaharathi:Krishna

Pandava Army and their Allies:  

    Satyaki of the Vrishni clan - 1 Akshauhini  
    Yuyudhana - 1 Akshauhini  
    Dhrishtaketu, king of Chedis - 1 Akshauhini  
    Jayatsena, son of Jarasandha - 1 Akshauhini (from Magadha) -- (Jarasandha, was slain by Arjuna and Bhima earlier, on Krishna's advice to neutralize Duryodhana's most powerful ally (father-in-law of Sisupal) and his son made ruler of Magadh for this assistance in the Kurukshetra War)
    Drupada with his sons - 1 Akshauhini  
    Virata the king of Matsya - 1 Akshauhini  
    Assorted allies - 1 Akshauhini (Pandya etc.)

Levels of Warrior Excellence:    

 Mahamaharathi: A chariot warrior capable of fighting 24 Atimaharathi warriors simultaneously. No warrior has attained this status, not least because there have never been 24 Atimaharathi warriors at the same time, but, warriors who can be called Mahamaharathis are the various incarnations of Vishnu, like Rama and Krishna
Atimaharathi: A chariot warrior capable of fighting 12 Maharathi warriors simultaneously. Vali, Kartavirya Arjuna, Ravana, Parashurama, Jambavan, Bhisma, Karna, Arjuna, Dronacharya and Indrajit are Atimaharathis.  
Maharathi: A chariot warrior capable of fighting 60,000 warriors simultaneously; circumspect in his mastery of all forms of weapons and combat skills. Yudhistra, Bhim, Nakul, Sahadev, Abhimanyu, Satyaki, Dhristadyumna, Shalya, Duryodhana, Kripacharya, Ashwathama,Kamsa,Jarasandha and Banasur were Maharathis.  
Atirathi: A chariot warrior capable of contending with 10,000 warriors simultaneously. Yuyutsu, Drupada, Virata, Uttar, Shikandhi, Dushashana, Vikarna, Jayadratha and Shakuni were Atirathis.

This setup is preserved in the game of chess.