Chess Notation - Learning From Past Games

 When learning to play chess, it is a definite advantage if you can study other chess games. Chess has many different methods of recoding games, the most common being Algebraic Notation. Those who can read Algebraic Notation can make use of annotated games and openings directories, tournament records and other great learning resources. Chess notation can be used to record all facets of the games, including piece positions, moves, captures, pawn promotion, castling, check, checkmate and end of game.

Each square on a chess board is located at an intersection of a rank and file. Ranks represent each horizontal row, and files each vertical column. With the chess board configured for the start of a game and placed such that the player is located behind whites pieces, the first rank is the row in which white's king is located the first file is the left most column. Ranks are numbered 1 to 8 and files a through h. Square locations are given by stating the file and rank. With a chess board configured ready for a game, we can now state that:

e1 contains Whites king

h7 contains a black pawn

d5 is empty

Pieces are described using uppercase letters as follows:

K - King

Q - Queen

R - Rook

B - Bishop

N - Knight

No letter - Pawn

Each chess turn is represented by writing the turn number (a number starting at 1 and incrementing each turn), whites move, then blacks move. Each move lists the piece and the destination square. For example, Nf6 is read aloud as "Knight to f6" and d7 is read aloud as "Pawn to d7". If the starting square is ambiguous (for example, it may be possible that either Knight may finish on square Nf6), an additional rank, file or both rank and file is listed after the piece identifier. For example, Ngf6 is read aloud as "Knight on file g to f6".

Piece captures are represented by placing an x between the piece identifier and the destination square. For example, Rxh7 is read aloud as "Rook takes h7".

The following annotations may also be added to the end of a move to indicate a special move:

+ - Check

# - Checkmate

0-0 - King side castle

0-0-0 - Queen side castle

Finally, the end of a game is written as 1-0 if white wins, 0-1 if black wins and 1/2-1/2 if it is a draw.