Algebraic Notation for Chess

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Algebraic Notation for Chess

Introduction

Algebraic notation is a common method of recording chess moves. This page gives an overview to allow you to use and read this notation.

The Board

Each square on the board has a name, the first character is a letter from a-h, denoting the file, and the second character a digit from 1-8 denoting the rank. This diagram shows the names of all 64 squares.

It is important to note that the names of the squares are the same for white and black, an important distinction from the old style of notation. Thus, black's king starts on e8 while the white king starts on e1.

The Pieces

All pieces (except the pawn) are described with a letter, given below:

K (King)
Q (Queen)
R (Rook)
B (Bishop)
N (Knight)

The pawn is described by the absence of a letter, as described below.

Moves (except pawns)

Moves are described by noting the kind of piece which is moving, followed by the square to which the piece moves. If the move happens to be a capture, an x is usually placed between the piece and the square.

Examples:

To move a knight to f3: Nf3
To capture a piece on d8 with a rook: Rxd8

Moves with pawns:

A pawn move is described by omitting the name of the piece altogether; merely naming the square to which the pawn moves. In the case of a capture, the move is described by the file the pawn is on, followed by the file the pawn moves to. This rule also applies to en passant, and you may optionally place "e.p." after the move.

Examples:

To push your king's pawn two squares: e4
To capture the e5 pawn with a pawn on f4: fe
To push a pawn to b8, promoting to a queen: b8=Q
To capture the (white) e4-pawn with your f4-pawn, en passant: fe e.p.

Ambiguous Moves

Sometimes a special distinction needs to be made when more than one piece of a certain kind can make the move indicated. This is done by appending the file (a-h) that the piece to be moved is on to the name of the piece. For example, the knight on the b-file is called Nb. In the case that both pieces are on the same file, the rank (1-8) is used. For example, the knight on the second rank is N2.

Examples:

To move the rook on a1 (and not the one on f1) to d1: Rad1
To move the knight on f6 (and not the one on b8) to d7: Nfd7
To capture the piece on a6 with the rook on a1 (and not the one on a7): R1xa6

Castling, Check, Checkmate, etc.

Castling is described by O-O for kingside (short) castling, and O-O-O for queenside (long) castling.

Check is noted with a plus (+) sign; checkmate, a pound (#) sign. Good moves are often described with an exclamation mark (!) or even two, while blunders get question marks (?).

Examples:

To mate the white king by playing a rook to d1: Rd1#
To sacrifice a queen on h7, with check, brilliantly: Qxh7+!!
To capture a "poisoned pawn" on b2 with the queen: Qxb2?
To castle kingside: O-O
To castle queenside, with check: O-O-O+