diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index aa4233b..8fe4039 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -63,17 +63,19 @@ pip install .
 chess -h        # to see all possible options
 ```
 ```
-usage: chess [-h] [-t] [-w W] [-b B]
+usage: chess [-h] [-t] [-w W] [-b B] [-c]
 
 A python program to play chess against an AI in the terminal.
 
 optional arguments:
   -h, --help       show this help message and exit
   -t, --two        to play a 2-player game (default: False)
-  -w W, --white W  color for white player (default: blue)
-  -b B, --black B  color for black player (default: red)
+  -w W, --white W  color for white player (default: white)
+  -b B, --black B  color for black player (default: black)
+  -c, --checkered  use checkered theme for the chess board (default: False)
 
 Enjoy the game!
+
 ```
 
 ## Contributing
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 0e919c6..cd8248a 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-termcolor
+colored
 mypy>=0.981
 mypy-extensions>=0.4.3
 tomli>=2.0.1
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 3021f1b..51b4d4a 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
         ],
     },
     install_requires=[
-        'termcolor',
+        'colored',
         ],
     keywords=['chess', 'game'],
     classifiers=["Programming Language :: Python :: 3"],
diff --git a/src/Board.py b/src/Board.py
index 15031a2..4b4709d 100644
--- a/src/Board.py
+++ b/src/Board.py
@@ -13,10 +13,16 @@
 from src.Piece import Piece
 from src.Queen import Queen
 from src.Rook import Rook
+import colored
+from colored import fg, bg, attr
 
 WHITE = True
 BLACK = False
 
+TILES = {
+    0:'#769656',
+    1:'#EEEED2',
+}
 
 class Board:
 
@@ -28,8 +34,13 @@ def __init__(self, mateInOne: bool = False, castleBoard: bool = False,
         self.currentSide = WHITE
         self.movesMade = 0
         self.checkmate = False
-        self.whiteColor = 'blue'
-        self.blackColor = 'red'
+        self.whiteColor = 'white'
+        self.blackColor = 'black'
+        self.isCheckered = False
+        self.tileColors = {
+            0:'#769656',
+            1:'#BACA44',
+        }
 
         if not mateInOne and not castleBoard and not passant and not promotion:
             self.pieces.extend([Rook(self, BLACK, C(0, 7)),
@@ -201,12 +212,13 @@ def makeUnicodeStringRep(self, pieces: list[Piece]) -> str:
                     if p.position == C(x, y):
                         piece = p
                         break
-                on_color = 'on_cyan' if y % 2 == x % 2 else 'on_yellow'
-                pieceRep = colored('  ', on_color=on_color)
+                bg_color = bg(self.tileColors[(x+y)%2]) if self.isCheckered else ''
+                pieceRep = bg_color + '  ' + attr(0)
                 if piece:
                     side = piece.side
                     color = self.whiteColor if side == WHITE else self.blackColor
-                    pieceRep = colored(DISPLAY_LOOKUP[piece.stringRep] + ' ', color=color, on_color=on_color)
+                    fg_color = fg(color)
+                    pieceRep = fg_color + bg_color + DISPLAY_LOOKUP[piece.stringRep] + ' ' + attr(0)
                 stringRep += pieceRep
             stringRep += '\n'
         return stringRep.rstrip()
diff --git a/src/main.py b/src/main.py
index 44bf3fb..18c0911 100644
--- a/src/main.py
+++ b/src/main.py
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ def main() -> None:
         '-w',
         '--white',
         action='store',
-        default="blue",
+        default='white',
         metavar='W',
         help="color for white player"
     )
@@ -239,14 +239,22 @@ def main() -> None:
         '-b',
         '--black',
         action='store',
-        default="red",
+        default='black',
         metavar='B',
         help="color for black player"
     )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        '-c',
+        '--checkered',
+        action='store_true',
+        default=False,
+        help="use checkered theme for the chess board",
+    )
+
     args = parser.parse_args()
     board.whiteColor = args.white
     board.blackColor = args.black
-
+    board.isCheckered = args.checkered
     try:
         if args.two:
             twoPlayerGame(board)