Algebraic Notation

From Chess

Algebraic chess notation is the method used today by all competition organizations and most books, magazines, and newspapers to record and describe the play of chess games. The form most commonly used, and primarily described here, is also called abbreviated (or short) algebraic notation or SAN to distinguish it from the expanded (or long) algebraic notation variant now referred to as LAN. Beginning in the 1970s, the abbreviated algebraic notation eventually came to replace descriptive chess notation in English chess literature, although this notation can be found in older literature. Algebraic notation was already commonly used in other languages.

Contents 1 Naming squares on the board 2 Naming the pieces 3 Notation for moves 3.1 Notation for captures 3.2 Disambiguating moves 3.3 Pawn promotion 3.4 Castling 3.5 Check and checkmate 3.6 End of game 4 Example 5 Common shorthand notation 6 See also 7 External links

Naming squares on the board

The notation begins by identifying each square of the chessboard with a unique coordinate:

• First, the files (that is, lines running parallel to the direction the players are facing) are labelled with lowercase letters a through h, from the left of the "white" player.

So the "a" file is to white's left, and to black's right.

• Then the ranks (lines running horizontally between the players) are numbered from 1 to 8, starting from white's home rank. Thus, black's home rank is rank 8.
• Each square of the board, then, is uniquely identified by its file letter and rank number.
  • The white king, for example, starts the game on square e1.
  • The black knight on b8 can move to a6, c6 or d7 (provided the squares are vacant of other black pieces).

Naming the pieces

Each type of piece (other than pawns) is identified by an uppercase letter, usually the first letter in the name of that piece in whatever language is spoken by the player recording. English-speaking players use K for king, Q for queen, R for rook, B for bishop, and N for knight (since K is already used).

Pawns are not indicated by a letter, but by the absence of such a letter—it is not necessary to distinguish between pawns for normal moves, as only one pawn can move to any one square (captures are indicated differently; see below).

Notation for moves

Each move of a piece is indicated by the piece's letter, plus the coordinate of the destination square. For example Be5 (move a bishop to e5), Nf3 (move a knight to f3), c5 (move a pawn to c5—no initial in the case of pawn moves).

Notation for captures

When a piece makes a capture, an x is inserted between the initial and the destination square. For example, Bxe5 (bishop captures the piece on e5). When a pawn makes a capture, the file from which the pawn departed is used in place of a piece initial. For example, exd5 (pawn on the e-file captures the piece on d5). When it is unambiguous, a pawn capture is indicated only by the files, e.g. ed.

En passant captures are specified by the capturing pawn's file of departure, the x, and the square to which it moves (not the location of the captured pawn), optionally followed by the notation "e.p." It is never necessary to specify that a capture was en passant because a capture from the same file but not en passant would have a different destination square.

Disambiguating moves

If two (or more) identical pieces can move to the same square, the piece's initial is followed by (in descending order of preference):

1. the file of departure if they differ;
2. the rank of departure if the files are the same but the ranks differ;
3. Both the file and rank if neither alone uniquely defines the piece (after a pawn promotion, if three or more of the same piece able to reach the square).

For example, with two knights on g1 and d2, either of which might move to f3, the move is indicated as Ngf3 or Ndf3, as appropriate. With two knights on g5 and g1, the moves are N5f3 or N1f3. As above, an x may be used to indicate a capture: for example, N5xf3.

Pawn promotion

If a pawn moves to its last rank, achieving promotion, the piece chosen is indicated after the move, for example e1Q, b8B. Sometimes an "=" sign or brackets are used: f8=Q or f8(Q), but neither is a FIDE standard. (The "=" sign is in fact used to represent the offer of a draw.)

Castling

Castling is indicated by the special notations 0-0 for kingside castling and 0-0-0 for queenside.

Check and checkmate

A move which places the opponent's king in check usually has the notation "+" added. Double check is sometimes represented "++". The word 'mate' written at the end of the notation is acceptable.

End of game

The notation 1-0 at the end of the moves indicates that white won, 0-1 indicates that black won, and ½-½ indicates a draw.

Example

Moves are generally written in one of two ways.

(1) written in two columns, as a white/black pair, preceded by the move number and a period:

1. e4 e5

2. Nf3 Nc6

3. Bb5 a6

(2) in text: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6.

Moves may be interspersed with text. When the score resumes with a black move, an ellipsis (...) takes the place of the white move, for example:

1. e4 e5

2. Nf3

Black now defends his pawn

2. ... Nc6

3. Bb5 a6

Common shorthand notation

The following short-hand notations are frequently used to comment moves:

• ! a good move,
• !! an excellent move,
• ? a mistake,
• ?? a blunder,
• !? an interesting move that may not be best,
• ?! a dubious move, but not easily refuted.

See also

External links

• FIDE rules on algebraic notation (see appendix E)
• notation website