chessboard = [ [None]*8 ]*8 # 2d array to store piece placements

def setup_chessboard(chessboard):
    # assign initial pieces
    return chessboard

def move_piece(chessboard, currentLocation, newLocation):
    # moves a piece
    # takes a piece if the enemy has one there
    return chessboard


setup_chessboard(chessboard)
move_piece(chessboard, 'a2', 'a3')

class Chessboard:
    # runs whenever you create a new instance of a class
    def __init__(self):
        # do the setup stuff like in setup_chessboard
        self.board = [[None]*8]*8

    def move_piece(self, currentLocation, newLocation):
        # move stuff
        pass

chessboard = Chessboard()
chessboard.move_piece('a2', 'a3')