Algebraic Notation

Why notation is indispensable

Algebraic notation is the worldwide standard system for writing down chess games. Mastering notation opens up a vast universe: you can read chess books, analyse historical games, save your own games to review them, and take part in any official tournament, where notation is compulsory from a certain level.

Without notation, chess is an ephemeral game. With notation, every game becomes a work that can be passed on, analysed and admired centuries later. It is thanks to notation that we can replay the games of Morphy, Alekhine or Tal in every detail today.

The coordinate system: naming the squares

The chessboard is a grid of 8×8 = 64 squares. In algebraic notation, each square is identified by a coordinate made up of a letter (file) and a number (rank):

Files: The 8 files are named from left to right (from White’s point of view): a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h.

Ranks: The 8 ranks are numbered from bottom to top (from White’s point of view): 1 (White’s back rank) to 8 (Black’s back rank).

So the square in the bottom-left corner (White’s side) is a1. The square in the top-right corner is h8. The White king starts on e1, the Black king on e8.

Naming the pieces

Each piece is designated by a capital letter. Conventions vary between languages, but in English we use:

Writing a move

The notation of a move shows which piece moves and to which square:

Format: [piece][destination square]

Examples: Nf3 = the knight goes to f3. Be5 = the bishop goes to e5. Qd4 = the queen goes to d4.

For pawns, only the destination square is written: e4 = the pawn goes to e4.

Special cases

Capture: The sign × (or x) is used. Nxe5 = the knight captures the piece on e5. For a pawn: exd5 = the pawn from the e-file captures on d5 (the file of origin is shown).

Ambiguity: When two pieces of the same type can go to the same square, the file or rank of origin is specified. Nfd2 = the knight from the f-file (not the other one) goes to d2. N1d2 = the knight that was on the first rank.

Check: The sign + follows the move. Qh5+ = the queen goes to h5 and gives check.

Checkmate: The sign # follows the move. Qh7# = the queen on h7 gives mate.

Kingside castling: 0-0 (on the king’s side).

Queenside castling: 0-0-0 (on the queen’s side).

Promotion: The square followed by the piece. e8=Q = the pawn goes to e8 and becomes a queen.

Reading a complete game

In a recorded game, White’s and Black’s moves alternate by number. Here is the Immortal Game (Anderssen–Kieseritzky, London 1851), a classic example of a brilliant combination:

Annotation symbols

Annotators use conventional symbols to assess moves and positions:

Long notation: a more explicit alternative

Long notation (or long algebraic notation) shows both the starting square and the destination square, making each move completely unambiguous: e2-e4, Ng1-f3, Bc4xb5. It is less used in modern publications but is still employed in some software and teaching contexts.

Now that you have mastered notation, you can explore the great historical games. Start with the biographies of Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov, which contain analyses of their best games, or deepen your knowledge of tactics by reading annotated games.