Throughout the years, some types of Chess notation or languages were developed in order to record the position of the pieces on the Chessboard or the moves being made during a Chess game. This is typically done by indicating the current piece and square location and where the piece is being moved to. It also enables us to review great Chess games played by actual Grandmasters and from other Chess players of the past, allowing you to go back over their games and learn from them. Also, learning Chess notation is a must to compose or study Chess problems and to be able to understand any kind of Chess book.

Fig. 1

Other shorthand symbols used in Chess notation

Fig. 2

Algebraic Notation System

Based on a system developed by Philipp Stamma, the Algebraic notation system uses the coordinates of the 8x8 square grid of the Chessboard and it is now the standard among most Chess players and organizations.  The first horizontal row of the white pieces is used for the denomination of all columns.  The squares of such columns are named from left to right with the letters: a, b, c, d, e, f, g, and h.  The first vertical column is used for the denomination of all ranks.  The squares of such ranks are named from down to up with the numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, see Fig. 3. The diagram on Fig. 4 shows the unique numeration for all the squares on the Chessboard, and Fig. 5 illustrates the current coordinates position on the board of both white and black Kings.

Chessboard with coordinates

Fig. 3

Algebraic numeration for all 64 squares

Fig. 4

White King is at c3 and black King is at f7

Fig. 5

Short Algebraic Chess Notation

This is the most popular form of the Algebraic system which is also called Standard Algebraic notation. This type of notation omits to annotate the starting file and rank location of the piece being moved and instead, the piece name and destination square are only annotated, see Fig. 6. The letters naming the Chess pieces are always written in upper-case letters and the coordinates letters of the board are always written in lower-case. The letter ‘P’ for Pawn is never used and only the destination file and rank coordinates are recorded.

Ruy Lopez opening

Fig. 6

Long Algebraic Chess Notation

Although long Algebraic notation is no longer recognized by FIDE as of 1981, computer programs and some Chess players use this variant of fully expanded Algebraic notation because it has the benefit of clarity, particularly for players learning the game or less skilled. This notation is almost identical to short Algebraic but it has the advantage of recording where a piece comes from in addition to the one it moves to. A hyphen is added between the two, for example:  1. c2-c4 instead of short Algebraic 1. c4. Also, an “x” is used to annotate a capture: 12. Nf3xd4 versus short Algebraic: 12. Nd4 (or Nxd4).

English Opening

Fig. 7

Descriptive Chess Notation

This type of Descriptive notation (also called English notation), was once the most popular notation in English and Spanish speaking countries until at least the late 70’s and is still used by some older players. Although Descriptive notation is no longer as popular as Algebraic notation, it is very useful to learn it because there are hundreds of old books from past Chess players using this Descriptive system. Rather than using letters for the columns, the board is divided into King-side and Queen-side squares, see fig. 10. Numbers are used for the ranks but each player starts from 1 to 8 from his relative position. Thus, the Algebraic move 1. e4 e5 is equal to 1. P-K4 P-K4 in Descriptive notation and is represented by the move number (1.), the piece’s name (P), a hyphen (-), and the destination square (K4). Unlike Algebraic notation, Descriptive notation always uses the letter ‘P’ to name Pawns.

Descriptive numeration for all 64 squares

Chess Score Sheet

Regardless of the Chess notation a player chooses or likes, he should have the means to write down his Chess moves and games. In Chess tournaments, players are required to record the moves in a Chess score sheet. This effectively allows players and officials to visually follow and recreate all moves made during a game in case there is a discrepancy or a dispute such as an illegal move, three-fold repetition, fifty-move rule, etc. Another good reason for writing down your Chess games is that enables you to replay your moves later for further study and analysis by pointing out mistakes and improving your Chess. Fig. 14 below shows a copy of the original score sheet from “The Game of the Century” played between Byrne and Fischer on the Rosenwald Memorial of 1956 written in Descriptive notation.

Score sheet / Byrne vs. Fischer

Fig. 14

Click here to download a printable Chess Score Sheet

More about Chess Notation

Promotion is annotated in Algebraic notation using an equal sign, e.g., d8=Q. In Descriptive notation there are several accepted ways of doing so: with parentheses: P-K8(Q), or a slash: P-K8/Q, or with an equal sign: P-K8=Q.

In Descriptive, the move 1. KP-K4 ... can always be written as 1. P-K4 ... since only that Pawn can move to K4. The normal full designation for the piece or a file can be shortened to just the last part providing this does not produce ambiguity.

When annotating moves during a game, the move number is written first, followed by the white move and then the black move. When white or black makes a move and the sequence needs to be interrupted to embed a follow up or a commentary, an ellipsis (...) should be placed to denote it: Algebraic Notation - 12. Bxd6 ... (for white) or 12. ... Ne5 (for black), and in Descriptive notation - 12. BxQ6 ... (white) or 12. ... N-K4 (black).

In both Algebraic and Descriptive notation, when a player has the option to capture a piece with two own pieces, e.g., with two Knights, an extra character should be added to avoid confusion: Algebraic - Nfxd4 (if both Knights are on rank 3) or N6xd4 (if both Knights are on c column), and in Descriptive notation - N(K)xP and N(6)xP respectively.