How to Read and Write Algebraic Chess Notation

In a few minutes, you will understand how to read and write chess moves using the chess notation, also known as algebraic chess notation. This is the standard method of recording the moves in a chess game.

The chess notation is a simple, efficient way to keep track of each play using a combination of letters and numbers to denote the squares. It helps players study games, analyze strategies, and communicate complex moves clearly and succinctly.

We recommend that you get started by watching the video below as Raphael from Chess House demonstrates algebraic chess notation and its importance in the game.

Once you become proficient at this, you’ll be able to read through and replay games of great players to help you improve your own game.

That’s because it’s the same notation used in a wealth of materials, both in book and digital form, used to easily and quickly demonstrate chess moves.

To record chess moves effectively, you'll need a chess recording sheet, commonly referred to as a scoresheet or scorebook.

These sheets are used to log details like the players, event details, chess moves, and results of a game. Chess scorebooks are standard in national and international organizations, such as the US Chess Federation and FIDE.

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Replay them! Chess notation enables you to record your games for playback later. Also, learn from them! Recording the game with chess notation enables you to review your game and analyze how you could make better moves or learn from a lost game.

Move recording is required in competitive play and chess competitions. For example, writing down your moves in chess algebraic notation creates proof of the game’s specific position and number of moves in case there is a dispute.

Similarly, competitive games often have a time allotment to reach 40 moves and it must be clear when that point is reached.

Chess notation describes each move with the name of the pieces and the destination square to which it is moved. Each piece has its own letter abbreviation, except the pawn. If no piece is named, it’s assumed to be a pawn move.

Note: K is annotated with “N” not “K”, which is reserved for King. All the other pieces also have letter representations. For the squares, you write down the file letter and number based on the standard grid system, as shown below.

In the game shown in the diagram below, I made the first move pawn to e4. The name of this move is simply “e4” since the pawn’s name is not written in a non-capture move.

Now black has made a pawn move, written e5.

Next, White replied Nf3. Notice how the name of the piece is recorded, as well as the name of the square.

Now, let’s fast-forward to some special notations. See how white has made a special move called Castling Kingside, written as 0-0. If the King castles Queenside, it would be written as 0-0-0.

In the image below, White captures Black’s pawn on d5. This move is called exd5. For “capture,” write an “x.”

Next, White captures the Knight on c6 with the Bishop, written as Bxc6+. Notice the “+” sign, representing “check” since Black’s King is now in check.

Next, White captures the Knight on c6 with the Bishop. This move is written as Bxc6+. Notice the “+” sign. This represents “check” since Black’s King is now in check.

White just moved his pawn to d4. Black’s next move exd3(ep), is a special move called “en passant” capturing. En passant capture means Black captured White’s d4 pawn “in passing” while moving his pawn to d3, just as if the pawn had moved to d3.

After several more moves, Black captures White’s Bishop on c1, recording it as dxc1=Q. That’s about as complicated as it gets! That notation means the pawn captures the piece on c1 and gets promoted to a Queen.

The Black Pawn could be promoted to any other piece, but Queens are nearly always the best choice. In rarer games, a player may choose to promote the pawn to a Knight if it provides a faster path to checkmate.

The next move is Raxc1. Note that either the rook on a1 or f1 can capture the queen c1. This means that the “a” must be included to indicate which rook was played.

In this next position shown below, Black makes a winning move, d4++, Pawn to d4 and CHECKMATE!

By now you may have guessed that this game was created for illustrating moves only. It’s true, White has made some rather questionable moves, but it’s shown you all you need to know about standard Algebraic Chess Notation.

So far, we’ve learned the following standard chess notations and how to record special moves:

• check (+)
• en passant (ep)
• castling (0-0 Kingside or 0-0-0 Queenside)
• checkmate (++)

If you wish to take this a step further, you can learn about annotating a chess game, a form of analyzing the game in notation form so that others view the annotator's opinions of the moves that were made.

You’ll find that once you can read and write algebraic notation, your world is opened to a wide expanse of chess knowledge.

Diving into this will help you improve your game as a chess player and you’ll be able to advance strides ahead of your friends.

In addition to writing the moves, chess players will sometimes comment on the strengths and weaknesses of chess moves with annotation symbols.

These are some of the symbols you’ll see:

• … Black’s move
• ! Good move
• !! Excellent move
• ? Bad move
• ?? Terrible move (blunder)
• !? Interesting move
• ?! Dubious move

Notice how some of these comments have been placed on the scoresheet shown above.

With this introduction to chess notation, you should be ready to record and replay games with confidence.

Beyond algebraic chess notation, there are other methods and concepts integral to documenting a game of chess.

Descriptive notation, once popular, uses a more narrative style, focusing on the file from the perspective of the player making the move.

For more detail, long algebraic notation is used, which includes both the starting and destination square of each piece moved, making it clearer which piece moves where, especially in complex situations.

• Short Algebraic Notation simplifies moves by only noting the piece's move without the departure square unless disambiguating moves are necessary.
• Coordinate Notation, rarely used, involves a grid system that can describe each square without reference to piece movements.
• Figurine Notation uses symbols instead of letters to represent pieces, eliminating language barriers in international play.

In algebraic chess notation, certain moves require special symbols to denote specific actions. For instance, when capturing a piece in a game of chess, a lowercase "x" is used between the capturing piece's notation and the destination square (e.g., Bxc6).

Other actions like castling, check, and checkmate also have unique symbols to indicate these moves clearly.

In cases where games end in a draw, or one player resigns, notation such as "1/2-1/2" for a draw, or "1-0" (white won) and "0-1" (black won) indicates the game's result.

In Pawn Promotion and Special Captures, such as when a pawn reaches the eighth rank and is promoted, the new piece is indicated in notation, such as "d8=Q". When capturing en passant, a special notation "e.p." is added.

In special game situations, notations exist that also cover situations like check "+" and checkmate "++" to provide a complete picture of the game’s strategic developments.

By understanding these different notations and chess concepts, players can better record and analyze their games, gaining insights into their strategies and improving future play.

This depth of knowledge is essential for anyone looking to advance in the world of chess, whether revising past games or planning future strategies.

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