Scribd
Upload
4 views

Untitled Document

Uploaded by

4eri4l
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
4 views

Untitled Document

Uploaded by

4eri4l
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

Algebraic chess notation is the standard way to record and communicate

chess moves. It might seem complicated at first, but it’s actually a simple
system once you understand the basics. Let’s go step by step.

1. The Chessboard Coordinates

Algebraic notation is based on a coordinate system:

●​ The chessboard has 8 ranks (horizontal rows), numbered 1 to 8 (starting from


White's side).
●​ The board also has 8 files (vertical columns), labeled a to h (starting from the
left from White's perspective).
●​ Every square has a unique coordinate based on its file and rank (e.g., e4, d5, h8).

Example:

●​ The bottom-left square (from White’s perspective) is a1.


●​ The top-right square is h8.

2. Naming the Pieces

Each piece (except the pawn) is represented by a capital letter:

●​ K = King
●​ Q = Queen
●​ R = Rook
●​ B = Bishop
●​ N = Knight (N is used instead of "K" to avoid confusion with the king)
●​ Pawns have no letter (moves are written with just the square name).

3. Basic Move Notation

A chess move is written as:

1.​ The piece being moved (if it’s not a pawn).


2.​ The square where the piece moves.
Examples:

●​ e4 → A pawn moves to e4 (since pawns don’t get a letter).


●​ Nf3 → A knight moves to f3.
●​ Bb5 → A bishop moves to b5.

4. Capturing Pieces

If a piece captures another, we add "x" before the destination square.

Examples:

●​ Bxe5 → A bishop captures a piece on e5.


●​ Nxc6 → A knight captures a piece on c6.
●​ exd5 → A pawn on the e-file captures a piece on d5.

5. Special Moves

Some moves require additional notation:

Pawn Promotion (When a pawn reaches rank 8, it promotes to another piece)

●​ The promoted piece is written after the move.


●​ Example: e8=Q (Pawn moves to e8 and becomes a queen).

Castling (A special king move with the rook)

●​ O-O → Kingside castling (short castle).


●​ O-O-O → Queenside castling (long castle).

En Passant (A special pawn capture rule)

●​ If a pawn captures "en passant," the notation includes "e.p."


●​ Example: exd6 e.p. (Pawn on e5 captures a pawn on d5 en passant).

6. Disambiguating Moves (When Two Pieces Can Move to the Same


Square)
If two identical pieces (like two knights or two rooks) can move to the same square,
extra information is needed:

●​ Add the file or the rank of the moving piece to distinguish them.

Examples:

●​ If two knights can move to d2:


○​ Nbd2 (The knight from the b-file moves to d2).
○​ N1d2 (If knights are on different ranks, specify rank instead).

7. Check and Checkmate

●​ Check is indicated by "+".


●​ Checkmate is indicated by "#".

Examples:

●​ Qg5+ (The queen moves to g5 and gives check).


●​ Rf8# (The rook moves to f8 and delivers checkmate).

8. Recording a Full Game

Each move is numbered, with White's move first, followed by Black's move.

Example of a Full Game in Algebraic Notation (Famous "Fool’s Mate")

1.​ f3 e5
2.​ g4 Qh4#

(White blunders, and Black checkmates immediately!)

Final Thoughts

Algebraic notation is simple once you get used to it. Try writing down your moves
when playing, and soon it will feel natural! Do you want to try writing some moves
yourself?😊

You might also like