Chess Notation - List of Chess Moves

How to write and read Chess Moves

Learn chess notation to be able to read and replay chess games.

While playing a game of chess you make a list of chess moves. You
write down each move after you made it.

To record each move in your game we use Algebraic Notation. In a

serious tournament game, it is a rule, that you write down every
move.

You are going to find this kind of notating chess moves among all
chess organizations and in most chess books, chess magazines, and
newspapers.

In earlier times another system called Descriptive Chess Notations

was used, but Algebraic Notation is much easier and is standard
now.

Every piece (other than pawns) is identified by an uppercase letter.

This letter is the first letter in the name of that piece. But the letter
depends on the language that is spoken by the player recording.

In English-speaking countries players use K for king, Q for queen, B

for bishop, N for knight and R for rook. (The N is used for the knight
because K is already used for the king. The N stands for nightrider).
German players use S (springer) for the knight. French players use
F (fou) for the bishop. Other languages may use different letters.

For the pawn, there is no letter used, so a pawn move is easily

recognized by absence of a letter.

The Move
The move of a piece is indicated by an uppercase letter and the
coordinate of the destination square. For example Qe5 (move a
queen to e5), Rf3 (move a rook to f3), d5 (move a pawn to d5. No
letter for pawn moves).

The Capture
If you make a capture, insert an x between the letter and the
destination square. For example, Rxe5 (Rook captures the piece on
e5). When you capture with a pawn, write down the file from which
the pawn moved. For example: dxe5 That means: The pawn on the
d-file captures a piece or a pawn on e5. You can use shorter
descriptions like dxe or de.

Same Type of Piece

If two pieces of the same type can move to the same square, you
just add the file or number of departure to your chess notation.
For example there are two knights, one is sitting on g5 and the
other on d2, both can move to f3. If the knight on d2 moves to f3
you write Ndf3 (not Nf3 as usual). And if the knight on g5 moves to
f3, you write Ngf3. That's all.

If both knights are placed on the d-file, one on d4 and the other one
on d2, you write down N4f3 or N2f3, the numbers define where the
knight came from.

Pawn Promotion
If you move a pawn to the last rank promoting it into a queen you
just add the Q. The notation is: e8Q That means a pawn has moved
to the square e8 and was transformed into a queen. If the pawn is
transformed into a knight, the notation is: e8N

Castling
The notation for castling is 0-0, if you castle short to the kingside.
And the notation for a long castle to the queenside is 0-0-0.
Giving a Check
If you give a check just add + . For example: Bb5+ this means the
bishop has moved to the square b5 and gives a check to the king.
A double check has the notation: ++ for example: Nf6++ , that
means: the knight moves to f6 and gives double check.

A Player loses
Notation: 1:0 (White won) or 0:1 (Black won) or Black resigns or
White resigns.