A guide to algebraic chess notation - how the squares are named, what the various symbols all mean, and how to mark up a game for sharing with other people.
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Board is always oriented with a white square at the bottom right.
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Squares are named from white's perspective
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Vertical columns are files, named a-h (always lower case) from left to right
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Horizontal rows are ranks, named 1-8 from near to far
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White king begins on square e1
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Piece
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Code
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Symbol
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King
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K
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♔
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Queen
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Q
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♕
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Rook
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R
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♖
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Knight
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N *
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♘
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Bishop
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B
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♗
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Pawn
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[no letter]
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♙
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The notation for a move indicates which piece is moved, and to where:
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Qa3
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Queen moves to a3
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Kh6
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King moves to h6
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b4
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Pawn moves to b4
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Where two identical pieces could move to the same square, the piece name is followed by its original file (or rank where the file is the same), like so:
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Rba3
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Rook on b file moves to a3
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N4f2
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Knight on rank 4 moves to f2
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cxd5
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Pawn on c file takes d5
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x
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Piece taken
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e.p.
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Piece taken en passant
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+
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Check
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#
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Checkmate
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=
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Pawn promotion *
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0-0
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Castle King-side
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0-0-0
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Castle Queen-side
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1-0
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White win
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½-½
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Draw
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0-1
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Black win
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(=)
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Draw offered
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1. e4 c5
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White pawn to e4; Black pawn to c5
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2. Nf3 d6
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White knight to f3
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3. Bb5+ Bd7
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White bishop to b5, Black in check
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4. Bxd7+ Qxd7
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White bishop takes black bishop on d7, black in check; Queens takes d7 bishop
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5. c4 Nc6
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6. Nc3 Nf6
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7. 0-0 g6
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White castles king-side
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8. d4 cxd4
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White d4 pawn taken by c-file black pawn
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9. Nxd4 Bg7
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10. Nde2 Qe6
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White knight on d-file to e2
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!!
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Extremely strong move, often game-winning
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!
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Great move
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!?
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Speculative move, possibly strong but more analysis needed
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?!
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Dubious move, possibly weak but more analysis needed
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?
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Bad move
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??
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Blunder, equivalent to hanging a piece
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+-
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White is winning
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+/-
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White has a significant edge
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+/=
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White has a small edge
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=
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Equality
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∞
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Unclear advantage
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=/+
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Black has a small edge
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-/+
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Black has a significant edge
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-+
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Black is winning
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□
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Only move available
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Figurine Notation is used where notation needs to be independent of language, and uses symbols instead of letters to represent pieces.
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Long Notation explicitly defines the start square for the moving piece, as well as the target square.
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Numeric Notation uses numbers instead of letters for pieces and for spaces.
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S is used in puzzles because N=Nightrider which is a fairy piece used in puzzles only.
S is "Springer" (jumper) and is a German notation only. It is not used in English
S is used in chess puzzles sometimes. No idea why the German letter was chosen ...
Cheatography n. The art of mapping complex subjects into clear, instantly navigable reference guides.
