{"id":2224,"date":"2021-12-18T02:00:57","date_gmt":"2021-12-18T02:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chessquestions.com\/?p=2224"},"modified":"2022-08-26T20:45:18","modified_gmt":"2022-08-26T20:45:18","slug":"algebraic-notation-in-chess-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chessquestions.com\/algebraic-notation-in-chess-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Algebraic Notation Chess Guide: An Introduction to Recording Moves"},"content":{"rendered":"

⭐⭐⭐ Take 10 minutes to read and improve your chess game ➡️ : This article was first published on, and is Copyright of Chessquestions.com<\/p>\n

Learning chess notation is one of the most important aspects of being a competitive player. It’s not an easy task to learn, but it is made easier with a few simple steps and this guide! The first step in mastering algebraic notation is understanding all the symbols used for recording chess moves<\/a> on paper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Algebraic Notation in chess is a written system used by FIDE, Computers, and chess players for recording moves in a game of chess; identifying moved pieces, the ultimate destination of the piece, while special symbols indicate if captures, checks, promotions or checkmates have been achieved.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, I’ll provide a complete list of all piece abbreviations, as well as links to resources that have coordinates for chess boards so that you can reference them online or offline when writing your moves down on paper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"CHess<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Finally, we’ll walk through what each different type of symbol means in order to give you the knowledge needed to be able to record chess moves<\/a> and compete in chess competitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just a few minutes of learning chess notation will place you in a better position to learn chess<\/a> more quickly, allowing you to analyze expert games, write down moves yourself, and is essential if wanting to enter official chess tournaments. Read on, it is much easier than you might imagine.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"why<\/a>
Click to see why chess moves are recorded and how to do it<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Learn Chess Notation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You are about to learn everything you need to know about chess notation, and there are a couple of things you need to prepare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. A pen and paper<\/li>
  2. A chess board [either real or computer]<\/li>
  3. Ten minutes<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Algebraic Notation Abbreviations, Coordinates, and Symbols<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Each chess piece<\/a> has its own Abbreviation and starting position on the board which is also numbered with a coordinate. Additionally, there are symbols to signify captures, and checks during a chess game among other things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Abbreviation<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    The King, for instance, is abbreviated as K. The Rook is abbreviated as R.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The table below provides each of the abbreviations and the numbered and lettered square of each chess piece starting position with a standard chess board set up.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    #<\/th>Chess Piece<\/th>Letter<\/th>White Position<\/th>Black Position<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    1<\/td>King<\/td>K<\/td>e1<\/td>e8<\/td><\/tr>
    2<\/td>Queen<\/td>Q<\/td>d1<\/td>d8<\/td><\/tr>
    3<\/td>Rooks<\/td>R<\/td>a1 and h1<\/td>a8 and h8<\/td><\/tr>
    4<\/td>Knights<\/td>N<\/td>b1 and g1<\/td>b8 and g8<\/td><\/tr>
    5<\/td>Bishops<\/td>B<\/td>c1 and f1<\/td>c8 and f8<\/td><\/tr>
    6<\/td>Pawns<\/td>No letter<\/td>a2, b2, c2, d2, e2, f2, g2, h2<\/td>a7, b7, c7, d7, e7 f7, g7, h7<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Each piece is designated by a single letter abbreviation. It is the first letter of its name<\/a> in the English language, which is a capital letter. Internationally, the local language and piece names will be relevant, but for now, we are in English<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Example:<\/strong> K=king, Q=queen, R=rook, B=bishop, N=knight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Because we have two pieces with K, the King takes precedence of course, and the knight adopts Letter N<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    So, the Queen making a capture on the d5 square would be written Qxd5<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The pawn does not have an abbreviation and just the pawn chess moves are recorded, understood that the absence of a letter signifies it is a pawn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This is why you will see the move 1. e4<\/a> written signifying the first move of the game where the white pawn in front of the king on the e file moves 2 squares forward to the 4th rank –<\/p>\n\n\n

    \n\n1. e4
    1. = first move
    no abbreviation = pawn,
    e4 = square on the board.<\/span>\n\n<\/div>\n\n
    \n
    \"This
    1. e4 most common chess opening<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

    So let’s move things forward a couple of moves, here we have the response from black to make a first pawn move 1…e5 and white releases a Bishop to c4 – so this is written 2. Bc4<\/p>\n\n\n

    \n
    \"This
    1. e4 e5 2. Bc4<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

    There is one exception to recording pawn moves whereby notice has to be made from whence the pawn began the move and that is for captures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A pawn capture must record the file of departure, the addition of an x which signifies the capture, and finally, the square upon which the capture was made and the pawn now resides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Examples: dxe5, gxf3, axb5. See below the special symbols section for information on how to record en passant<\/a> pawn captures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Chess Board Square Numbers and Letters<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    You’ll have to learn the chess board numbers and letters<\/a> for this too, but that’s pretty easy and this guide will help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Quite simply for this guide,<\/p>\n\n\n\n