How to Read and Write

Algebraic Chess Notation

There are many different ways to write chess moves. The most popular method (described below) is called algebraic notation:

The main idea is that every square has a name like this:

algebraic chessboard

It looks very complicated but it's not! Each square on a chessboard has a first name (a letter) and a last name (a number). The letter identifies a file (column) and the number identifies a rank (row). Now, the important part is to know how to identify the pieces you are moving. You just need to use a single capital letter:

K = King Q = Queen R = Rook B = Bishop N = Knight

Note that "P" is not used. Chess players have agreed that a move without a letter — such as e4 — is
understood to be a pawn move. You are almost ready to start using chess notation. Just pay attention to the following symbols:

x = Take or Capture
0-0 = K-side castle
0-0-0 = Q-side castle
+ = check
# = checkmate
! = good move
? = bad move
?? = blunder

It’s a great idea to note your games. You can analyze and learn from your mistakes. We all make a lot of mistakes when we are learning a new thing. Don’t worry! Mistakes will help you improve your chess skills. Let’s put in practice what you are learning. We will use the famous "Scholar Mate," also called the four–move checkmate.

(I have used the "p" to indicate a pawn moving, in practice, the "p" is not needed ) 1. e4
#WhiteBlack #WhiteBlack
1e4  6  
2   7  
3   8  
4   9  
5   10  
1.e4






1. ... e5
#WhiteBlack #WhiteBlack
1e4e5  6  
2   7  
3   8  
4   9  
5   10  
1 e4 ....e5






2. Bc4
#WhiteBlack #WhiteBlack
1e4e5 6  
2Bc4   7  
3   8  
4   9  
5   10  
1 e4 ....e5
2.Bc4 (Bishop to square c4)






2. ... h6?
#WhiteBlack #WhiteBlack
1e4e5 6  
2Bc4h6  7  
3   8  
4   9  
5   10  
1 e4 ....e5
2Bc4....h6






3. Qh5
#WhiteBlack #WhiteBlack
1e4e5 6  
2Bc4h6 7  
3Qh5   8  
4   9  
5   10  
1 e4 ....e5
2Bc4....h6
3.Qh5






3. ... a5??
#WhiteBlack #WhiteBlack
1e4e5 6  
2Bc4h6 7  
3Qh5a5??  8  
4   9  
5   10  
1 e4 ....e5
2Bc4....h6
3Qh5....a5?? (?? means blunder)






4. Qxf7#
#WhiteBlack #WhiteBlack
1e4e5 6  
2Bc4h6 7  
3Qh5a5?? 8  
4Qxf7#   9  
5   10  

1 e4 ....e5
2Bc4....h6
3Qh5....a5?? (?? means blunder)
4.Qxf7# (x means capture)(# means checkmate)



How to Read and Write

Descriptive Chess Notation

The main idea is that every square has TWO names:

one from WHITEs view, one from BLACKs view

BLACKs VIEW
descriptive chess board
WHITEs VIEW
1. e4
#WhiteBlack #WhiteBlack
1KP k4  6  
2   7  
3   8  
4   9  
5   10  
1.KP k4






1. ... e5
#WhiteBlack #WhiteBlack
1KP k4KP k4  6  
2   7  
3   8  
4   9  
5   10  
1 KP k4 ....KP k4






2. Bc4
#WhiteBlack #WhiteBlack
1KP k4KP k4 6  
2KB QB4   7  
3   8  
4   9  
5   10  
1 KP k4 ....KP k4
2.KB qb4 (kings bishop )






2. ... h6?
#WhiteBlack #WhiteBlack
1KP k4KP k4 6  
2KP qb4KRP kr3  7  
3   8  
4   9  
5   10  
1 KP k4 ....KP k4
2. KB qb4....KRP kr3






3. Qh5
#WhiteBlack #WhiteBlack
1KP k4KP k4 6  
2KB qb4KRP kr3 7  
3Q kr5   8  
4   9  
5   10  
1 KP k4 ....KP k4
2.KB qb4....KRP kr3
3.Q kr5






3. ... a5??
#WhiteBlack #WhiteBlack
1KP k4KP k4 6  
2KB qb4KRP kr3 7  
3Q kr5QRP qr4 ??  8  
4   9  
5   10  
1 KP k4 ....KP k4
2.KB qb4....KRP kr3
3.Q kr5....QRP qr4?? (?? means blunder)






4. Qxf7#
#WhiteBlack #WhiteBlack
1KP k4KP k4 6  
2KB qb4KRP kr3 7  
3Q kr5QRP qr4?? 8  
4Qxkb7 #   9  
5   10  

1 KP k4 ....KP k4
2.KB qb4....KRP kr3
3. Q kr5....QRP qr4?? (?? means blunder)
4.Q xkb7 # (x means capture)(# means checkmate)




How to Read and Write

International Chess Notation

The main idea is that every square has a number like this:

internationl chess board 1. e4
#WhiteBlack #WhiteBlack
152-54  6  
2   7  
3   8  
4   9  
5   10  
1.52-54






1. ... e5
#WhiteBlack #WhiteBlack
152-5457-55  6  
2   7  
3   8  
4   9  
5   10  
1 52-54 ....57-55






2. Bc4
#WhiteBlack #WhiteBlack
152-5452-54 6  
261-34   7  
3   8  
4   9  
5   10  
1 52-54 ....57-55
2.61-34 (Bishop to square 34)






2. ... h6?
#WhiteBlack #WhiteBlack
152-5457-55 6  
261-3487-86  7  
3   8  
4   9  
5   10  
1 52-54 ....57-55
2.61-34....87-86






3. Qh5
#WhiteBlack #WhiteBlack
152-5457-55 6  
261-3487-86 7  
341-85   8  
4   9  
5   10  
1 52-54 ....57-55
2.61-34....87-86
3.41-85






3. ... a5??
#WhiteBlack #WhiteBlack
152-5457-55 6  
261-3487-86 7  
341-8517-15??  8  
4   9  
5   10  
1 52-54 ....57-55
2.61-34....87-86
3.41-85....17-15?? (?? means blunder)






4. Qxf7#
#WhiteBlack #WhiteBlack
152-5457-55 6  
261-3487-86 7  
341-8517-15?? 8  
485x67#   9  
5   10  

1 52-54 ....57-55
2.61-34....87-86
3.41.85....17-15?? (?? means blunder)
4.85x87# (x means capture)(# means checkmate)



(thanks to VINCE KLEMM NM for proofreading my work)