Chess Notation

For recording the games the FIDE rules recognise two systems of notation, namely, the Algebraic notation and the Descriptive notation.

THE ALGEBRAIC NOTATION

Here, the pieces, with the exception of the pawns are represented by their initial letters (the knight generally with 'N'). The pawns are not mentioned.

The eight files from the left to right of White are represented by the letters: a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h. The eight ranks from White's side of the board are numbered: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. The combination of letters and figures can now designate every squ are on the board. For example, White's queen rook's square will be "a1" and Black's king rook's square "h8".

While writing the move, the initial letter of the piece (except the pawn) with the square of departure and the arrival will form the unit of notation. For example, e2-e4 will indicate the the pawn on e2 had moved to the square e4. Similarly, notation Nb8- c6 will mean that the knight from b8 had moved to c6. The en passant capture is indicated on the square of capture; thus is White plays his pawn from h2 to h4 and Black captures en passant by his pawn on h4, then the notations will read: h2-h4, g4xh3. In the shortened from of notation the square of departure is omitted.

When two similar pieces can go to the same square, the shortened notation is completed in the following way: if for example, two knights are on g1 and d2, the move Ng1-f3 will be written in the shortened form Ng-f3. If the knights are on g1 and g5, the mo ve Ng1-f3 will be shortened as N1-f3.

THE DESCRIPTIVE NOTATION

In this, the pieces are represented by their initial letters, including the pawn which is indicated by the letter P. Here "N" is generally preferred for the knight. Distinction between the king side pieces and the queen side pieces is made, where necessar y, by adding the letter K or Q before the piece mentioned.

The eight files are given the names of the pieces which originally stand on them. That is, reading from left to right the files are (from the White's side) QR, QN, QB, Q, K, KB, KN, KR. For Black, the same will be from right to left.

The eight ranks are numbered from 1 to 8 from White's side on the board for White and from Black's side on the board for Black. (Note that there is no such distinction in the Algebraic notation.)

The initial letter of the piece moved and the square to which it is moved are indicated. Thus B-QB4 means the bishop is played to the queen bishop's file on the fourth square. Where two similar pieces can move to the same square, then the square of depart ure is also mentioned, usually within brackets: the, R(Q2)-K2 means that the rook on Q2 moves to K2. Or if any piece can move to similar files on either side of the board, distinction is made in the square of arrival by adding the appropriate letter, thus : R-QB2 means that the rook, which could have moved to either KB2 or QB2 did so to the latter. In other cases simple QB2 might suffice. Similarly if two pieces from different squares can move to the same square, then the square of the origin of the piece moved must be indicated as also the square of arrival. For example, rooks are on KR2 and QR2 and it is desired to show that the rook at KR2 went to QB2, then the move is written: R(KR2)-QB2.

ABBREVIATIONS USED IN NOTATION

O-O Castles with the rook h1 or a8 (king side). O-O-O Castles with the rook a1 or h8 (queen side). = Promotion. x or : takes (capture). + or ch. Check. ++ Mate. ! Well played. ? Bad move.

THE FORSYTHE NOTATION

This is used for copying our a position without having to use a diagram to indicate the placing of the various pieces and pawns. In writing our the notation the player always reads it from White's side of the board, beginning with the top left hand corner (a8) and reading left to right, coming down the board rank by rank and ending with h1.

The notation, rank by rank, indicates the pieces and the blank square by using the initial letter of the pieces, and figures for the blank squares. The White pieces are indicated by capital letters and the Black pieces by small letters.

For example, the following position occurred after the 23rd move in the 10th match game between Petrosian and Spassky in 1966:
r2q1rk1/7p/p2p4/nppP4/2P2nB1/1P2N3/PQ1N3P/5RK1

This would mean that on White's eighth rank there is a Black rook on the first square, the next two squares are blank, then Black queen, one blank square, Black rook, Black king and one blank square. In the same way the position on every rank is shown. Ca pital letters indicate White pieces.

It must be borne in mind that the Forsythe notation is always written while reading the board from White's side only. Player's will find this sytem useful for noting the adjournment positions on the sealing envelopes, quickly noting a position from a book , etc.

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