There are many different ways to write
chess moves. The most
popular method (described below) is called
algebraic notation. The main idea is that every
square has a
name like this:
B L A C K
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
| a8 |#b8#| c8 |#d8#| e8 |#f8#| g8 |#h8#|
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ ^
|#a7#| b7 |#c7#| d7 |#e7#| f7 |#g7#| h7 | |
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
| a6 |#b6#| c6 |#d6#| e6 |#f6#| g6 |#h6#| F
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
|#a5#| b5 |#c5#| d5 |#e5#| f5 |#g5#| h5 | I
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
| a4 |#b4#| c4 |#d4#| e4 |#f4#| g4 |#h4#| L
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
|#a3#| b3 |#c3#| d3 |#e3#| f3 |#g3#| h3 | E
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
| a2 |#b2#| c2 |#d2#| e2 |#f2#| g2 |#h2#| |
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ v
|#a1#| b1 |#c1#| d1 |#e1#| f1 |#g1#| h1 |
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
W H I T E
<-- RANKS -->
# # indicate black square
It looks very complicated but it’s not! Each square on a chessboard has a first name (a letter) and a last name a number). The letter identifies a file (column) and the number identifies a rank (row).
Now, the important part is to know how to identify the pieces you are moving. You just need to use a single capital letter:
K = King Q = Queen R = Rook B= Bishop N = Knight
Note that "P" is not used. Chess players have agreed that a move without a letter — such as e4 — is understood to be a pawn move.
You are almost ready to start using chess notation. Just pay attention to the following symbols:
x = Take or Capture
0-0 = K-side castle
0-0-0 = Q-side castle
+ = check
# = checkmate
! = good move
? = bad move
?? = blunder
Let’s put in practice what you are learning. We will use the famous "Scholar's Mate", also called the four– move checkmate.
B L A C K
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
| R |#N #| B |#Q #| K |#B #| N |#R #|
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
|#p #| p |#p #| p |#p #| p |#p #| p |
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
| |# #| |# #| |# #| |# #|
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
|# #| |# #| |# #| |# #| |
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
| |# #| |# #| |# #| |# #|
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
|# #| |# #| |# #| |# #| |
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
| p |#p #| p |#p #| p |#p #| p |#p #|
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
|#R #| N |#B #| Q |#K #| B |#N #| R |
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
W H I T E
1. e4 e5
2. Bc4 h6?
3. Qh5 a5??
4. Qxf7#
See also: algebraic notation
Assimilated from
http://www.uschess.org/beginners/read/