Chess Notation

     Among the several methods used for naming the individual squares of the chessboards, the two most common are the algebraic and the descriptive. In both systems, vertical and horizontal coordinates are combined to designate a square. Both systems are easy to learn and to use.

     However, the moves in this site are given in algebraic notation, a system of recording chess moves that is used throughout the world. In the algebraic system each square has a name consisting of a lowercase letter and a number, with the letter always given first. All squares are named from White's point of view, no matter which side moves. The letters represent files (rows of square going up and down the board); the numbers stand for ranks (rows of squares across the board). In this system, vertical and horizontal coordinated are combined to designate a square. The names of the squares are as below.

Symbols you should know

K	King
Q	Queen
R	Rook
B	Bishop
N	Knight

Pawns are symbolized when recording the moves. A pawn moving from e2 to d4 is written 1.e4. But if referred to in discussions, pawns are named by the letter of the file occupied. Thus, a pawn on the g4 square is a g-pawn or the g4-pawn.

When a piece moves, first the capital letter for the piece is written and then the lowercase letter and number of the square it moves to. If a piece, a bishop for example, captures something on d4, we write Bxd4. The piece captured is not given.

If a pawn makes a capture indicate the file (or square) the capturing pawn starts from and the square it takes on. Thus, if a black pawn on g6 takes any white piece or pawn on f5, the move is written gxf5 or g6xf5, sometimes abbreviated to gf.

If two pieces might have accomplished Rxe1, the appropriate rook is indicated by the file of origin, Raxe1. Bishops travel on either light squares or dark squares, so each side starts with a knight-square bishop and a dark square bishop.

Other symbols you should know

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