Algebraic notation for the game of chess is the method used to record and describe games, based on a system originally introduced by Philipp Stamma. Being more concise and less ambiguous, algebraic notation has become the official standard method for recording game moves, replacing the previous descriptive notation system.
If you are passionate about chess, it is very important for you to learn how to read and use algebraic notation correctly: only in this way will you be able to take advantage of the vast chess literature available and study your games. Many tournaments require games to be recorded and in any case it will be useful for your post-game analysis, to improve your playing technique. This article shows you how to read algebraic notation for the game of chess.
Steps
Step 1. Get a board and a set of pieces
Although it is not essential, having a chessboard with its pieces in front of it will help you learn the notation better.
Step 2. Learn how houses are identified
There are 64 squares on the board (32 white, 32 black), and each of them corresponds to a specific name in the algebraic notation:
- Vertical columns are indicated by letters, from a to h, going from left to right on the white side.
- The horizontal crosses are indicated by numbers, from 1 to 8, going from bottom to top on the white side.
- Each house is uniquely identified by the letter of the column in which it is located, followed by the number of the crossbar. For example, g5 is the square at the intersection of column g and row 5.
Step 3. Learn how the pieces are identified
Each piece (except pawns) is identified by a capital letter, typically the first letter of the piece name in the language used by the players. Therefore, depending on the language, this letter can change. In books, to avoid possible uncertainties, a specific graphic symbol is often used in place of the letter for each piece. In Italian the pieces are identified as follows:
- Re = R or ♔ or ♚
- Woman = D or ♕ or ♛
- Tower = T or ♖ or ♜
- Bishop = A or ♗ or ♝
- Horse = C or ♘ or ♞
- Pawn = (no letter) - pawns are indicated by the missing letter o, graphically, like this: ♙ or ♟
Step 4. Learn the move notation:
- Move. Write the letter of the piece, followed by the coordinates of the destination house. For example, a horse's move to the f3 square is denoted by Cf3; a pawn moving into the e4 square is simply denoted by and4 (remember? Pawns don't have a letter of their own).
- Capture. A move involving a capture is written with the letter of the piece, followed by an x and then by the coordinates of the destination square. For example, a bishop who captures a piece on c4 is written Axc4.
- When a pawn makes the capture, the starting column is written in place of the initial. Therefore, a pawn that captures a piece on d5 from the square e4 is written exd5, or more simply ed5 because x is often omitted.
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En passant captures are indicated with the starting column of the pawn making the capture, followed by the square in which it moves, optionally followed by the abbreviation e.p.. Therefore, a pawn on e5 that captures a pawn on d5 en passant is written exd6 or exd6 e.p.
- If two or more pieces of the same type can move to the same square, the initial letter of the piece is followed by:
- the starting crossbar if they are different;
- the starting column if the crosspieces are the same but the columns are not;
- both, both the column and the crossbar, if neither of them suffices to uniquely identify the piece.
- For example, if two knights on d2 and f2 can both move to e4, the move is written C2e4 or C6e4, as appropriate. If two knights on d2 and d6 can both move to e4, the move is written Cde4 or Cfe4, as appropriate. If three knights on d2, d6 and f2 can move to e4, with capture of a piece, the move is written Cd2xe4 or C6xe4 or Cfxe4, as appropriate.
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For pawn moves, if a pawn is promoted, the piece to which the pawn is promoted is written after the destination coordinates. For example, a pawn on e7 that moves to e8 and is promoted to a horse is written e8C. In some cases you may find variants, i.e. that the equal sign = is used, for example e8 = C, or a pair of parentheses, such as e8 (C), or a slash /, such as e8 / N. Only the first way is accepted as a standard by FIDE
- For castling, 0-0 means short castling and 0-0-0 long castling. Note: the number 0 is used and not the capital letter O.
- Check is indicated by + after the notation of the move; double check can be indicated by ++.
- Checkmate is indicated by # after the notation of the move. Some slightly dated text might use the ++ notation for checkmate.
- The notation 1-0 is used at the end of the game to indicate the victory of white, 0-1 to indicate the victory of black, ½-½ or 0, 5-0, 5 or even, 5-, 5 to indicate a draw. The words "White abandons" or "Black leaves" they can be used in case of abandonment.
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Punctuation is usually used to express comments on moves or positions reached. It is followed by the swim of the move. For instance:
- ! a good move
- !! an excellent move
- ? a dubious move
- ?? a serious mistake
- !? an interesting move but perhaps not the best possible
- ?! a dubious but noteworthy move
Read Algebraic Chess Notation Step 7 Step 7. Learn how to write a series of moves
The series of moves are indicated by numbered pairs of white and black moves. For instance: 1. e4 e5 2. Cf3 Cc6 3. Ac4 Ac5.
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The series of moves can be interrupted by comments. When the series resumes, if black is moving, three suspension points "…" are put in place of white's move. For instance: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Black defends the pawn. 2 … Cc6.
Advice
- The pieces are arranged on the chessboard so that white's rook is in the square a1 (white looks at the columns from a to h) while on h8 there is black's rook. While it is theoretically possible to read the notation anyway if this pattern is reversed, this can cause confusion when analyzing the match.
- Practice reading and using algebraic notation; it will become familiar to you very soon.
Step 5. Learn how special situations are handled
