ALGEBRAIC NOTATION 
NAMING SQUARES 
Each square is named by a letter(a-h) 
and a number(1-8). 
The letter gives the name of its file and the number gives its rank. 
ABBREVIATIONS FOR PIECES 
These are: 
K-king,Q-queen,R-rook,B-bishop 
N-knight (to distinguish it from king) 
No abbreviation is used for the pawn. 
CAPTURES 
The letter X is used to show a capture. 
AMBIGUOUS MOVES 
Sometimes 2 pieces of the same type could get to the same square. To show which piece moved, the file 
(or rank if they are on the same file) is given. 
e.g.Rae1 shows that because both rooks could get to e1, the a rook moved there. 
SPECIAL MOVES 
+ check 
# checkmate 
X capture 
e.p. en passant 
0-0 castles kingside 
0-0-0 castles queenside 
! a good move 
? a weak move 
!! a very good move 
!? bold, but risky 
?! a dubious move 
?? a bad mistake 
= even position 
+- white is winning 
-+ black is winning 
ENGLISH DESCRIPTIVE OTHER NOTATIONS 
*TOURNAMENT RULES 
TOUCH MOVE 
In competition chess the touch move rule is strictly enforced. 
If a player touchs a unit, then if it is his then he must move it ,otherwise, he must acpture it if possible. 
JADOUBE 
If a player wishs to adjust a piece on its square without moving it, then he signals his intention by 
saying `jadoube'. 
SCORING 
All tournament players are required to record their games on scoresheets provided. 
This allows them to know when time controls are reached and claim triple repitition. 
CHESS CLOCKS 
`Chess clocks' are generally used in competition games. A chess clock 
is an ingenious device consisting of 2 clocks joined together, both of which 
can be stopped and restarted like a stopwatch. 
A lever connects the 2 clocks, so that when is going the other is stopped. 
pressing a button aboev your clock stops it and starts your opponents. Each clock 
only records the time used by the corresponding player.  
ADJOURNMENTS 
A game that is too long to be finished in a single playing session may be adjourned. One player `seals' 
a secret move by writing it on the scoresheet and placing it in an envelope. 
The game is resumed at a preset time or a time suitable for both players.
DISPUTES 
On rare occassions there may be disputes between the 2 players. 
These are often resolved by a panel chosen by the D.O.P. 
ROUND ROBIN 
A few tournaments are organized on the Round Robin basis.This means that al players play all players. 
SWISS 
The swiss is the most common type of tournament.All players play all games and 
players are paired according to how many points they are on. 
MATCHES 
A match may consist of a series of games between 2 players. 
The world championship is decided by a match. 
KNOCK OUT 
A number of matches can be arranged as a knockout. 
This is easiest if the number of players is equal to a power of 2. 
BOOKS 
In the Victoria State Library is the Anderson chess collection,which is one of the largest chess 
collections in the world. 
MAGAZINES 
There are many magazines devoted to chess. 
NEWSPAPERS 
Many newspapers have a weekly chess column, containing news and perhaps 
a game and puzzle. 
TV/RADIO 
In Melbourne there is a chess radio chess while several TV productions have been made. 
LIFE SIZE 
Occassionally there are live games of chess, which use people as pieces.