What is Chess Notation?
Chess notation is a system used to record the moves made in a game of chess. It is a way to keep track of the game and to analyze it later on. It is an important aspect of chess and is used by players of all levels, from beginners to professional grandmasters.
Understanding the Chessboard
Before we dive into chess notation, it is important to have a basic understanding of the chessboard. The board consists of 64 squares, alternating in light and dark colors, with 8 squares in each row and column. Each square has a unique coordinate, with the ranks (rows) labeled from 1 to 8 and the files (columns) labeled from a to h.
How to Read Algebraic Notation
Algebraic notation uses a combination of letters and numbers to indicate the moves made in a game. Each piece has a specific letter assigned to it â K for King, Q for Queen, R for Rook, B for Bishop, N for Knight, and P for Pawn. The letter is followed by the coordinate of the square the piece moves to.
If two pieces of the same type can move to the same square, the starting file or rank is also included to differentiate them. For example, if there are two Knights on the board, one on b3 and one on g3, and the white player moves the Knight on b3 to d4, it would be written as Nbxd4.
Recording Captures, Castling, and Special Moves
Captures are indicated by an “x” symbol between the moving piece and the square it captures on. For example, if the white player´s Knight captures the black player´s Bishop on f6, it would be written as Nxf6.
Special moves such as en-passant and pawn promotion are also notated. En-passant captures are written as âe.p.” after the capture move, and pawn promotion is indicated by the promotion piece after the move is made. For example, if the white player promotes their pawn on f7 to a Queen, it would be written as f7=Q.
Tips for Using Chess Notation
1. Always keep the starting position in mind â the player making the move is always the player whose perspective the notation is written from.
3. Learn to read and write moves quickly and accurately. Practice makes perfect!
5. Familiarize yourself with common chess notations and symbols, such as check, checkmate, and draw.
