There are various types or methods utilized for chess notation, which is to say how a

record is created for a game - moves by pieces and pawn advances, captures, castling,
check, double check, checkmate, etc., and for evaluation purposes - excellent move,
bad move, blunder, etc. Additionally there are symbols and abbreviations also
commonly used in the chess world. The most common notation type you will
encounter and the one most frequently in use in the modern chess world is English
Algebraic, (note: the United States Chess Federation refers to this system as
Algebraic Notation, abbreviated AN), although you will encounter several others as
well and should become familiar with them. The types you will see in chess books
and publications, in chess programs, and in use in the chess world is quite varied:
English Descriptive Notation, Figurine Algebraic (also called Standard Figurine
Algebraic), Portable Game Notation (pgn), Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN),
Numeric for Chess Correspondence (established as official notation system for
correspondence chess games organized through The International Correspondence
Chess Federation), German Algebraic (with colon for captures), Long Algebraic,
Abbreviated Algebraic (without check and capture symbols), and Computer
Notation (earlier type not used now). There is also evaluation notation system used in
conjunction with mainly pgn files called Numeric Annotation Glyphs (NAG).

The above notation types, as well as several other older ones (if you study historical
chess books and publications), are reviewed in Appendix B in The Mammoth Book of
Chess, by Graham Burgess (full book reference provided in the Recommended
Readings section). There also are excellent tutorials and reviews available at
Chessville.com. This tutorial will review English Algebraic [Section II] (in this
tutorial), Figurine Algebraic [Section III] (in this tutorial), English Descriptive
[Section IV] (separate tutorial), Portable Game Notation (pgn) [Section V]
(separate tutorial), Numeric Annotation Glyphs (NAG) and Forsyth-Edwards
Notation (FEN) (separate tutorial pages), and Numeric [Correspondence Chess]
(Section VI) (separate tutorial page).
Before proceeding to the tutorial sections, introductory material is included in:
Section I.A provides standard notations and symbols common to almost all of the
notation types used, as well as other common notations and abbreviations you will
likely encounter; and, Section I.B provides common styles for actually recording
the notations.
I.A. General Notations and Symbols.
The Symbols tutorial provides additional symbols you may encounter in the chess
world. You should review that tutorial after this section before proceeding to the
specific sections on the three notation types we will review in this tutorial. There is a
link provided at the end of this section to the Symbols tutorial, with a return link from
that tutorial to this one.
the number symbol ( # ) is used to note checkmate added to the end of the
notation
the double plus symbol ( ++ ) sometimes is used to note checkmate [more rare
and archaic in older historical books it was used for double check, more
commonly now seen sometimes shown as dbl. ch.], added to the end of the
notation
the plus symbol ( + ) is used to note check added to the end of the notation
the abbreviated phrase dis. ch. sometimes is used to note a discovered check
for en passant in addition to the move and capture notation sometimes ep or
e.p. or (ep) or (e.p.) or en passant is added to the end of the notation.
1-0 is used to note win by White whether by checkmate or resignation by Black
0-1 is used to note win by Black whether by checkmate or resignation by White
1/2-1/2 is used to note a draw or stalemate; and, additional notation may be
added to clarify the manner in which the game ended (game drawn by
agreement, draw by agreement, draw by stalemate or simply stalemate), and
sometimes you will see draw abbreviated as dr. (both within parenthesis and
without parentheses).
!! is added to a move notation to denote a brilliant move
! is added to a move notation to denote an excellent or good move
!? is added to a move notation to denote an interesting move
?! is added to a move notation to denote a dubious move
? is added to a move notation to denote a poor move
?? is added to a move notation to denote a blunder
Ch. is used to denote a Championship
Wch is used to denote World Championship
Corr. is used to denote Correspondence chess
(n) is used to denote the nth match game (where the n represents the number of
the game in the match)
GM abbreviation used to denote International Grandmaster
IM is used to denote International Master
FM is used to denote FIDE Master
WGM abbreviation used to denote Woman Grandmaster
WIM is used to denote Woman International Master
WFM is used to denote Woman FIDE Master
DM is used only in the International Chess Club (ICC) to denote Display
Master, who has a certain privilege only within ICC
Order of notation: The move notation or move & capture notation is always first,
followed by the en passant notation if applicable, followed by the check notation (or
checkmate if applicable), and then any applicable evaluation notation (!!, !, !?, ?!, ?,
??).
In addition to the above, there is a wide range of symbols used in various styles of
chess notation. These are covered in a separate tutorial.
(cont'd next page)
I.B. Styles for Noting Moves.
In chess books and publications, as well as computer and Internet chess programs, you
will see principally two types of noting moves made during a game regardless of the
method of chess notation type used. The first type of noting moves is a straight
forward linear notation format across the lines of a page where the number represents
the number of the move followed by White's move and then Black's move, in a
sequential repeating descending order. For example, and using the initial opening
moves (pawn advances) by White and Black in setting up the French Defense:
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5
The second type is in a two-column table format shown below:
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5
Although the use of periods after the move number is the preferred style of noting the
move numbers, often you may see it written without the periods as well. Additionally,
when a period after a move number is used then the use of a space after the period and
before the White's move notation is optional. There is always a space between White's
and Black's move notations, and in the straight linear format there is always a space
between Black's move notation and the following move number. To continue further
using the standard French Defense after four moves by White and Black, English
Algebraic notation for a straight linear format would be as follows:
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. Nf3 Nc6 (with space after period)
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.Nf3 Nc6 (without space after period)
In the two-column format:
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5
3. e5 c5 4. Nf3 Nc6
A variation on the two-column table format is a multiple column format, where moves
in the two-column format are grouped (often for five to ten moves) in column format
sequenced in successive columns for each group across the table. The following is an
example using the first twenty moves from Reti - Torre, International Tournament of
Moscow, 1925. Sometimes the tabled is scrunched into a smaller width table, with the
moves noted as if across a page but in a single column format. This variety is shown
in Figurine Algebraic (Section III) below.
1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 c6 3. b3 Nf6 4. g3 Bg4! 5. Ne5 Bh5
6. Bg2 Nbd7 7. Nxd7 Qxd7 8. Bb2 e6 9. 0-0 Bd6 10. d3 Qxe7
11. Qc2 0-0 12. e4 dxe4 13. dxe4 Bc5 14. Nd2 Rad8 15. e5 Ng4
16. Ne4 Bg6! 17. Qe2 Bx34 18. Bxe4 Qxg5 19. Bc3 f5
20. exf6(e.p.) Nxg6
II. English Algebraic.
Through the introductory sections, you should now be acquainted with the basics of
the English Algebraic method of chess notation. The following is both a review and
further development of principles for English Algebraic notation, as well as review of
basic symbols in use. I then provide examples of how you will see various styles for
actually noting moves down and displaying them textually in English Algebraic.
English Algebraic notation is based upon assigning numbers to the 8 ranks (rows) and
lower case letters to the 8 files (columns) on the board. Reference is made to the
squares on the board by their file letter and rank number; e.g., a1, b7, g3, h7 etc.
Therefore, each file has 8 squares associated with the file (e.g., for the a file there are
a1, a2, a3, a4, a5, a6, a7, and a8). Each rank has 8 squares associated with the rank
(e.g., a1, b1, c1, d1, e1, f1, g1, and h1). The phrase "rank and file" should come to
mind, although in English Algebraic notation it is more accurately "file and rank".
Additionally, remember that upper case/capital letters are used for the pieces: King =
K, Queen = Q, Rook = R, Bishop = B, Knight = N (some languages use S to note the
Knight, so keep this in mind; you may see Kt as well although generally in older texts
and books as this is obsolete). In English Algebraic notation no letter is used for the
pawns, which instead generally are referred to simply by the file letter from which the
pawn is advanced. A capture whether by a piece or a pawn is noted by using the
multiplication symbol/lower case letter x (e.g. Bxc6, exd5). Note, however, in some
languages/notation systems, the ( : ) symbol is used to note a capture (B:e4)
[sometimes the : is shown after the move notation instead of in the middle). So for
example, in German algebraic notation, a capture would be noted instead as B:c6 and
e:d5 using the above two examples].
A. Basic Rule for Noting Moving Pieces. A move by a piece not involving
a capture is noted by using the upper case/capitalized letter assigned to the piece
followed by the lower case letter of the file and the number of the rank of the square
to which the piece is moved. An example: if White's White Bishop is moved from its
home square at f8 to the square at b5, this is noted as Bb5.
B. Basic Rule for Noting Capture by a Piece. A capture by a piece is
noted by using the upper case/capitalized letter assigned to the piece followed by the
multiplication symbol/lower case x followed by the lower case letter of the file and
the number of the rank of the square to which the piece is moved and does the capture.
An example: if White's White Bishop is moved from it home square at f8 to the
square at b5, which has a Black pawn on it and thus White's Bishop does a capture of
that pawn, this is noted as Bxb5.
C. Special Rules When More than One Piece of the Same
Type May Move to or Move and Capture on a Square.

1. If two pieces of the same type may move to a square, then the file
letter for the file from which the piece is moved is added after the letter for the piece
except if the pieces that could move to the square are in the same file. An example is
if two Knights are positioned on squares such that they could both move to e4 (e.g.,
Knights at c3 and g3), and the Knight at c3 is moved to e4 then the notation would be
Nce4.

2. If a capture would occur of an opposing piece or pawn at e4 in such
situation, then the multiplication symbol (or lower case x) is added; e.g. Kcxe4.

3. If the pieces that may move to a square are both in the same file, then
instead of adding the file letter use instead the rank number from which the piece is
moved. An example is if two Rooks are in the same file and there is a piece or pawn
in that file which may be captured by either Rook; e.g., if the two Rooks are in the e
file (at e1 and e6) and there is an opposing Knight at e4 and the Rook at e1 is used to
move and capture the Knight at e4, then the notation would be R1xe4.

4. In very rare situations, to adequately note a piece move or piece move
and capture a player will need to use the full algebraic notation for his piece...Bc5xd6.
These situations are rare and occur after pawn promotion.

D. Basic Rule for Noting Advancing pawns. An advance by a pawn not
involving a capture is noted by using the lower case letter of the file in which it is
advanced and the rank number of the square to which it is moved. An example: if
White advances his King pawn at e2 to e4 (a two-square advance), this is noted
simply as e4.

E. Basic Rule for Noting Capture by a pawn. A capture by a pawn is
noted by using the lower case letter of the file from which the pawn is advanced to do
the capture followed by the multiplication symbol/lower case x followed by the lower
case letter of the file and the number of the rank of the square to which the pawn is
advanced and does the capture. An example: if White's pawn at e4 advances and
captures Black's pawn at d5 (diagonally only fro advancing and capturing with a
pawn), this is noted as exd5.

F. Basic Rule for Noting en passant Capture by a pawn. An en passant
capture by a pawn is noted as if the capture occurred on the square bypassed by the
opposing pawn using the lower case letter of the file from which the pawn is advanced
to do the capture followed by the multiplication symbol/lower case x followed by the
lower case letter of the file and the number of the rank of the square bypassed by the
opposing pawn on its two-square advance. An example: if White's pawn is at e5 and
Black advances his or her f7 pawn to f5 bypassing the ability of White's pawn at e5 to
do a normal capture on f6, then if White does the optional en passant capture at f6,
this is noted as exf6 (and not exf5 although Black's pawn at f5 is removed from the
board) [remember sometimes an additional notation is added to denote an en passant
capture occurred as described above...e.g. exf6 (e.p.)].

G Basic Rule for Noting Pawn Promotion. A pawn promotion is noted by
adding to the pawn advance notation an equal sign (=) and the capital letter for the
piece selected by the player for the promotion (Queen=Q, Rook=R, Bishop=B, &
N=Knight). An example: if White's pawn in the a file is advanced from a7 to a8 and
promoted to a Queen, this is noted as a8=Q. Sometimes you will see parentheses used
instead of the equal sign...a8(Q).

On the next page is the full game in English Algebraic notation for Boleslavsky -
Bronstein, Moscow 1945, USSR Championship, which shows many of the above
principles for noting a chess game with English Algebraic. The Reti - Torre game
(partial example) above also shows an example of using one of the optional additional
en passant notations.

(cont'd next page)

III. Figurine Algebraic (also called Standard Figurine Algebraic).
This type is the same as English Algebraic except graphic symbols are utilized for the pieces (styles
of pieces may vary of course depending on creator's choice). An example is shown below with the
corresponding example in English Algebraic (both in a scrunched table format you might
sometimes see used).



The tutorial continues with separate files for sections for English Descriptive (Section IV), PGN
with NAG and FEN (Section V), and Numeric [Correspondence Chess] (Section VI).