The checkerboard wrasse, reaching up to 27 centimeters in length, undergoes significant changes in both sex and appearance throughout its life. During its juvenile stage, it features a white silvery background with three distinctive black and dark red vertical patches. A black ocellus with a yellow ring decorates the dorsal fin’s rear, and white spots adorn the caudal peduncle. In the terminal phase, marked by gender determination, the wrasse exhibits a variable coloration resembling a checkerboard pattern. The body is white to greenish with blue to black edges on its scales, and the head is greenish with pink lines. Bright yellow spots and patterns further contribute to its intricate appearance, with some individuals displaying unique variations, such as a blue-colored back in the Red Sea. The caudal fin is typically truncated and exhibits yellow and pinkish hues.