View source for Algebraic notation (chess)

{{short description|Method to convey chess moves}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
[[File:SCD algebraic notation.svg|right|Algebraic notation|frame]]
'''Algebraic notation''' is the standard method of [[chess notation]], used for recording and describing moves. It is based on a system of [[coordinates]] to identify each square on the board uniquely.<ref name="Oxford">{{cite book |last1=Hooper |first1=David |authorlink1=David Vincent Hooper |last2=Whyld |first2=Kenneth |authorlink2=Kenneth Whyld |title=[[The Oxford Companion to Chess]] |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=1996 |edition=2nd |origyear=First pub. 1992 |page=389 |entry=standard notation |isbn=0-19-280049-3 }}</ref> It is now almost universally used by books, magazines, newspapers and software, and is the only form of notation recognized by [[FIDE]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=E. Miscellaneous / 01. Laws of Chess / FIDE Laws of Chess taking effect from 1 January 2023 / FIDE Handbook |url=https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/E012023#:~:text=FIDE%20recognises%20for,of%20this%20requirement. |access-date=2024-11-30 |website=International Chess Federation (FIDE) |language=en}}</ref> the international chess governing body.

An early form of algebraic notation was invented by the Syrian player [[Philip Stamma]] in the 18th century. In the 19th century, it came into general use in German chess literature and was subsequently adopted in Russian chess literature. [[Descriptive notation]], based on abbreviated natural language, was generally used in English language chess publications until the 1980s. Similar descriptive systems were in use in Spain and France. A few players still use descriptive notation, but it is no longer recognized by FIDE, and may not be used as evidence in the event of a dispute.

The term "algebraic notation" may be considered a [[misnomer]], as the system is unrelated to [[algebra]].<ref name="Oxford" />

==Naming the squares==
Each square of the board is identified by a unique coordinate pair—a letter and a number—from White's point of view. The vertical columns of squares, called ''{{chessgloss|files}}'', are labeled ''a'' through ''h'' from White's left (the {{chessgloss|queenside}}) to right (the {{chessgloss|kingside}}). The horizontal rows of squares, called ''{{chessgloss|ranks}}'', are numbered ''1'' to ''8'' starting from White's side of the board. Thus each square has a unique identification of file letter followed by rank number. For example, the initial square of White's king is designated as "e1".

==Naming the pieces==
{{Contains special characters
| section    = section
| special    = chess piece figurines
| fix        = Help:Multilingual support
}}
Each [[chess piece|piece type]] (other than pawns) is identified by an uppercase letter. English-speaking players use the letters ''K'' for [[king (chess)|king]], ''Q'' for [[queen (chess)|queen]], ''R'' for [[rook (chess)|rook]], ''B'' for [[bishop (chess)|bishop]] and ''N'' for [[knight (chess)|knight]]. Different initial letters are used by other languages.

In modern chess literature, especially that intended for an international audience, the language-specific letters are usually replaced by universally recognized [[Chess symbols in Unicode|piece symbol]]s; for example, '''♞c6''' in place of '''Nc6'''. This style is known as ''figurine algebraic notation''. The [[Unicode]] [[Miscellaneous Symbols]] set includes all the symbols necessary for figurine algebraic notation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Test for Unicode support in Web browsers |url=https://www.alanwood.net/unicode/miscellaneous_symbols.html}}</ref>

==Notation for moves==
In standard (or short-form) algebraic notation, each move of a piece is indicated by the piece's uppercase letter, plus the coordinates of the destination square. For example, '''Be5''' (bishop moves to e5), '''Nf3''' (knight moves to f3). For pawn moves, a letter indicating pawn is not used, only the destination square is given. For example, '''c5''' (pawn moves to c5).

===Captures <span id="e.p."></span>===
When a piece makes a {{chessgloss|capture}}, an "x" is inserted immediately before the destination square. For example, '''Bxe5''' (bishop captures the piece on e5). When a pawn makes a capture, the {{em|file}} from which the pawn departed is used to identify the pawn. For example, '''exd5''' (pawn on the e-file captures the piece on d5).

''[[En passant]]'' captures are indicated by specifying the capturing pawn's file of departure, the "x", the destination square (not the square of the captured pawn) and (optionally) the suffix "e.p." indicating the capture was ''en passant''.{{refn|{{em|see}} FIDE Laws of Chess<ref name="FideLawsOfChess">{{cite web |title=FIDE Laws of Chess taking effect from 1&nbsp;January 2018 |date=2018-01-01 |url=https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/E012018 |access-date=12 July 2020 |website=FIDE}}</ref>{{rp|at=Apdx&nbsp;C.9.3}}.}} For example, '''exd6 e.p.'''

Sometimes a [[multiplication sign]] (×) or a [[colon (punctuation)|colon]] (:) is used instead of "x", either in the middle ('''B:e5''') or at the end ('''Be5:'''). Some publications, such as the ''[[Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings]]'' (''ECO''), omit any indication that a capture has been made; for example, '''Be5''' instead of Bxe5; '''ed6''' instead of exd6 or exd6&nbsp;e.p.

When it is unambiguous to do so, a pawn capture is sometimes described by specifying only the files involved ('''exd''' or even '''ed'''). These shortened forms are sometimes called ''abbreviated algebraic notation'' or ''minimal algebraic notation''.

===Disambiguating moves===
{{Chess diagram
| tright
| 
|  |  |  |rd|ra|x1|  |rd
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|rl|  |  |  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |ql|  |  |ql
|x2|  |  |  |  |  |dl|  
|ua|  |  |  |  |dl|  |  
|rl|  |  |  |x3|  |  |ql
| {{olist|...Rdf8|R1a3|Qh4e1}}
}}

When two (or more) identical pieces can move to the same square, the moving piece is uniquely identified by specifying the piece's letter, followed by (in descending order of preference):
# the file of departure (if they differ);
# the rank of departure (if the files are the same but the ranks differ).

If neither file nor rank alone is sufficient to identify the piece (such as when three or more pieces of the same type can move to the same square), then both are specified (double disambiguation).

In the diagram, both black rooks could legally move to f8, so the move of the d8-rook to f8 is disambiguated as '''Rdf8'''. For the white rooks on the a-file which could both move to a3, it is necessary to provide the {{em|rank}} of the moving piece, i.e., '''R1a3'''.

In the case of the white queen on h4 moving to e1, neither the rank nor file alone are sufficient to disambiguate from the other white queens. As such, this move is written '''Qh4e1'''.

As above, an "x" can be inserted to indicate a capture; for example, if the final case were a capture, it would be written as '''Qh4xe1'''.

===Pawn promotion===
When a pawn [[promotion (chess)|promotes]], the piece promoted to is indicated at the end. For example, a pawn on e7 promoting to a queen on e8 may be variously rendered as '''e8Q''', '''e8=Q''', '''e8(Q)''', '''e8/Q''' etc.

===Castling <span id="0-0"></span><span id="0-0-0"></span>===
[[Castling]] is indicated by the special notations '''0-0''' (for {{chessgloss|kingside}} castling) and '''0-0-0''' ({{chessgloss|queenside}} castling). '''O-O''' and '''O-O-O''' (letter O rather than digit 0) are also commonly used.{{efn|The main differences from standard Algebraic are that there is both a dot and a space after each move number, and an upper case "O" is used, instead of a zero, in the notation for castling. Presumably these were initially just one individual's personal foible (or error) in the early days of chess on the Internet, but the standard is {{nowrap|now established. — Burgess (1997)<ref>{{cite book |last=Burgess |date=2000 |orig-year=1997 |first=Graham |author-link=Graham Burgess |title=The Mammoth Book of Chess |publisher=Carroll & Graph |isbn=0-7867-0725-9|page=517}}</ref>}} }}

===Check <span id="+"></span><span id="++"></span>=== 
A move that places the opponent's [[king (chess)|king]] in [[check (chess)|check]] usually has the symbol "+" appended. Alternatively, sometimes a [[Dagger (mark)|dagger]] (†) or the abbreviation "ch" is used. Some publications indicate a [[discovered check]] with an abbreviation such as "dis ch", or with a specific symbol. [[Double check]] is usually indicated the same as check, but is sometimes represented specifically as "dbl ch" or "++", particularly in older chess literature. Some publications such as ''ECO'' omit any indication of check.

===Checkmate <span id="Mate"></span><span id="mate"></span><span id="#"></span>===
[[Checkmate]] at the completion of moves is represented by the symbol "#" in standard FIDE notation and PGN. The word ''mate'' is commonly used instead; occasionally a double dagger ({{math|‡}}) or a double plus sign (++) is used, although the double plus sign is also used to represent "[[double check]]" when a king is under attack by two enemy pieces simultaneously. A checkmate is represented by "{{math|≠}}" (the [[Equal sign#Not equal|not equal sign]]) in the [[List of macOS components#Chess|macOS chess application]]. In [[Russian language|Russian]] and ex-[[USSR]] publications, where captures are indicated by ":", checkmate can also be represented by "X" or "x".

===Draw offer <span id="(=)"></span>===
FIDE specifies draw offers to be recorded by an equals sign with parentheses "(=)" after the move on the {{chessgloss|score sheet}}.{{refn|Article 9.1.2.2 in FIDE Laws of Chess<ref name="FideLawsOfChess"/>}} This is not usually included in published game scores.

===End of game <span id="1–0"></span><span id="0–1"></span><span id="½–½"></span><span id="0—0"></span><span id="½—0"></span><span id="0—½"></span><span id="+/−"></span><span id="−/+"></span><span id="−/−"></span>===
The notation '''1–0''' at the completion of moves indicates that White won, '''0–1''' indicates that Black won and '''½–½''' indicates a [[draw (chess)|draw]]. In case of {{chessgloss|forfeit}}, the scores 0–0, ½–0 and 0–½ are also possible.<ref>[https://www.vegachess.com/download/vega8_en.pdf User's Manual] for Vega Chess Pairing Software (FIDE-approved), p. 16.</ref><ref>[[Geurt Gijssen]], [https://chesscafe.com/geurt/geurt164.pdf ''An Arbiter's Notebook''], no. 164.</ref> In case of loss by default, results are +/−, −/+ or −/−.

Except in the case of checkmate, there is no information in the notation regarding the circumstance of the final result. Merely 1–0 or 0–1 is written whether a player [[Rules of chess#Resigning|resigned]], lost due to [[time control]] or forfeited; in the case of a draw ½–½ is written whether the draw was decided by mutual agreement, repetition, stalemate, 50-move rule or [[dead position]]. Sometimes direct information is given by words such as "resigns", "draw agreed" etc., but this is not considered part of the notation, rather a part of the narrative text.

==Similar notations==
Besides standard (or short form) algebraic notation already described, several similar systems have been used.

===Long algebraic notation===
In long algebraic notation, also known as fully expanded algebraic notation, both the starting and ending squares are specified, for example: '''e2e4'''. Sometimes these are separated by a hyphen, e.g. '''Nb1-c3''', while captures are indicated by an "x", e.g. '''Rd3xd7'''. Long algebraic notation takes more space and is no longer commonly used in print; however, it has the advantage of clarity. Both short and long algebraic notation are acceptable for keeping a record of the moves on a scoresheet, as is required in FIDE rated games.

A form of long algebraic notation (without piece names) is also used by the [[Universal Chess Interface|Universal Chess Interface (UCI)]] standard, which is a common way for graphical chess programs to communicate with chess engines, e.g. e2e4, e1g1 (castling), e7e8q (promotion).<ref name="wbec_UCIp">{{Cite web |title=UCI protocol |url=https://wbec-ridderkerk.nl/html/UCIProtocol.html |access-date=2018-06-14 |work=wbec-ridderkerk.nl}}</ref>

===ICCF numeric notation===
In international [[correspondence chess]] the use of algebraic notation may cause confusion, since different languages employ different names (and therefore different initial letters) for the pieces, and some players may be unfamiliar with the [[Latin alphabet]]. Hence, the standard for transmitting moves by post or email is [[ICCF numeric notation]], which identifies squares using numerical coordinates, and identifies both the departure and destination squares. For example, the move 1.e4 is rendered as 1.5254. In recent years, the majority of correspondence games have been played on on-line servers rather than by email or post, leading to a decline in the use of ICCF numeric notation.

===PGN===
[[Portable Game Notation]] (PGN) is a text-based file format for storing chess games, which uses standard English algebraic notation and a small amount of markup.<ref>{{cite web |title=Standard: Portable Game Notation Specification and Implementation Guide |url=https://www.saremba.de/chessgml/standards/pgn/pgn-complete.htm}}</ref> PGN can be processed by almost all chess software, as well as being easily readable by humans. For example, the [[Game of the Century (chess)|Game of the Century]] could be represented as follows in PGN:

{{sxhl|2=moin|
[Event "Third Rosenwald Trophy"]
[Site "New York, NY USA"]
[Date "1956.10.17"]
[EventDate "1956.10.07"]
[Round "8"]
[Result "0-1"]
[White "Donald Byrne"]
[Black "Robert James Fischer"]
[ECO "D92"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "82"]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.d4 O-O 5.Bf4 d5 6.Qb3 dxc4 7.Qxc4 c6 8.e4 Nbd7 9.Rd1 Nb6 10.Qc5 Bg4 11.Bg5 Na4 12.Qa3 Nxc3 13.bxc3 Nxe4 14.Bxe7 Qb6 15.Bc4 Nxc3 16.Bc5 Rfe8+ 17.Kf1 Be6 18.Bxb6 Bxc4+ 19.Kg1 Ne2+ 20.Kf1 Nxd4+ 21.Kg1 Ne2+ 22.Kf1 Nc3+ 23.Kg1 axb6 24.Qb4 Ra4 25.Qxb6 Nxd1 26.h3 Rxa2 27.Kh2 Nxf2 28.Re1 Rxe1 29.Qd8+ Bf8 30.Nxe1 Bd5 31.Nf3 Ne4 32.Qb8 b5 33.h4 h5 34.Ne5 Kg7 35.Kg1 Bc5+ 36.Kf1 Ng3+ 37.Ke1 Bb4+ 38.Kd1 Bb3+ 39.Kc1 Ne2+ 40.Kb1 Nc3+ 41.Kc1 Rc2# 0-1
}}

==Formatting==
{{Chess diagram
| tright
|
|rd|  |bd|qd|kd|bd|nd|rd
|  |pd|pd|pd|  |pd|pd|pd
|pd|  |nd|  |  |  |  |  
|  |bl|  |  |pd|  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |pl|  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |nl|  |  
|pl|pl|pl|pl|  |pl|pl|pl
|rl|nl|bl|ql|kl|  |  |rl
| Position after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 
}}
A game or series of moves is generally written in one of two ways; in two columns, as White/Black pairs, preceded by the move number and a period:
:'''1. e4 e5'''
:'''2. Nf3 Nc6'''
:'''3. Bb5 a6'''
or horizontally:
:'''1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6'''
Moves may be interspersed with commentary, called ''annotations''. When the {{chessgloss|game score}} resumes with a Black move, an [[ellipsis]] (...) fills the position of the White move, for example:
:'''1. e4 e5 2. Nf3'''
::White attacks the black e-pawn.
:'''2... Nc6'''
::Black defends and develops simultaneously.
:'''3. Bb5'''
::White plays the [[Ruy Lopez]].
:'''3... a6'''
::Black elects [[Ruy Lopez#Morphy Defence|Morphy's Defense]].

==Annotation symbols==
{{main article|Chess annotation symbols}}
Though not technically a part of algebraic notation, the following are some symbols commonly used by annotators, for example in publications ''[[Chess Informant]]'' and ''[[Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings]]'', to give editorial comment on a move or position. 

The symbol chosen is appended to the end of the move notation, for example, in the [[Englund Gambit#Soller Gambit|Soller Gambit]]: 1.d4 e5?! 2.dxe5 f6 3.e4! Nc6 4.Bc4+/−. 

===Moves===
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
! Symbol
!style="text-align:left;"| Meaning
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
|style="text-align:center;"| !! 
| A brilliant—and usually surprising—move
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
|style="text-align:center;"| ! 
| A very good move 
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
|style="text-align:center;"| !? 
| An interesting move that may not be the best
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
|style="text-align:center;"| ?! 
| A dubious move that is not easily refutable
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
|style="text-align:center;"| ? 
| A bad move; a mistake  
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
|style="text-align:center;"| ?? 
| A [[Blunder (chess)|blunder]] (i.e. critically bad mistake)
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
|style="text-align:center;"| {{big|⌓}} 
| A better move than the one played
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
|style="text-align:center;"| {{big|□}} 
| A {{chessgloss|forced move}}; the only reasonable move, or the only move available
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
|style="text-align:center;"| {{sc|TN}} {{small|or}} {{sc|N}} 
| A {{chessgloss|theoretical novelty}}
|}

===Positions===
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="vertical-align:bottom;"
! Symbol
!style="text-align:left;"| Meaning
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
|style="text-align:center;"| = 
| Both players have {{chessgloss|equality|equal chances}}.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
|style="text-align:center;"| +/= or {{big|⩲}}
| White has a slight plus.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
|style="text-align:center;"| =/+ or {{big|⩱}} 
| Black has a slight plus.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
|style="text-align:center;"| +/− or ±  
| White has a clear plus.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
|style="text-align:center;"| −/+ or {{big|∓}} 
| Black has a clear plus.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
|style="text-align:center;"| +− 
| White has a winning advantage.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
|style="text-align:center;"| −+ 
| Black has a winning advantage.
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
|style="text-align:center;"| {{big|∞}} 
| It is unclear whether either side has an advantage; a "toss-up".
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
|style="text-align:center;"| =/{{big|∞}} or ⯹ 
| Whoever is down in {{chessgloss|material}} has [[Compensation (chess)|compensation]] for it.
|}

==History==
Descriptive notation was usual in the Middle Ages in Europe. A form of algebraic chess notation that seems to have been borrowed from Muslim chess, however, appeared in Europe in a 12th-century manuscript referred to as "MS. Paris Fr. 1173 (PP.)". The files run from ''a'' to ''h'', just as they do in the current standard algebraic notation. The ranks, however, are also designated by letters, with the exception of the 8th&nbsp;rank which is distinct because it has no letter. The ranks are lettered in reverse – from the 7th to the 1st: ''k'', ''l'', ''m'', ''n'', ''o'', ''p'', ''q''.<ref name=":0">{{cite book |last=Murray |first=Harold James Ruthven |url=https://www.archive.org/details/AHistoryOfChessHJRMurray |title=A History of Chess |date=1913 |publisher=Clarendon Press |place=Oxford, UK |pages=469–470}}</ref>

Another system of notation using only letters appears in a book of Mediaeval chess, Rechenmeister [[Jacob Köbel]]'s ''Schachzabel Spiel'' of 1520.<ref name=":0" />

Algebraic notation exists in various forms and languages and is based on a system developed by [[Philipp Stamma]] in the 1730s. Stamma used the modern names of the squares (and may have been the first to number the ranks), but he used ''p'' for pawn moves and the capital original {{chessgloss|file}} of a piece (''A'' through ''H'') instead of the initial letter of the piece name as used now.<ref>{{cite book | title=A Short History of Chess | publisher=David McKay | author=Davidson, Henry | year=1981 | pages=152–153 | isbn=978-0679145509 }}</ref> Piece letters were introduced in the 1780s by [[Moses Hirschel]], and [[Johann Allgaier]] with [[Aaron Alexandre]] developed the modern castling notation in the 1810s.<ref>{{cite web |last=Wall |first=Bill |title=Chess Notation |url=https://billwall.phpwebhosting.com/articles/chess_notation.htm}}</ref>

Algebraic notation was described in 1847 by [[Howard Staunton]] in his book ''The Chess-Player's Handbook''. Staunton credits the idea to German authors, and in particular to "Alexandre, [[Carl Jaenisch|Jaenisch]] and the ''[[Handbuch des Schachspiels|Handbuch]]'' {{grey|[''des Schachspiels'']}}".<ref>{{cite book |last=Staunton |first=Howard |title=The Chess-Player's Handbook |quote=A popular and scientific introduction to the game of chess, exemplified in games actually played by the greatest masters, and illustrated by numerous diagrams of original and remarkable positions. |edition=Second, revised |year=1866 |publisher=Bell & Daldy |location=London, UK |pages=501 |lang=en-GB |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tchh5AGWYj4C&q=Staunton+%22Chess-Player%27s+Handbook%22 |via=Google Books}}</ref> While algebraic notation has been used in German and Russian chess literature since the 19th century, the [[Anglosphere]] was slow to adopt it, using descriptive notation for much of the 20th century. Beginning in the 1970s, algebraic notation gradually became more common in English language publications, and by 1980 it had become the prevalent notation. In 1981, FIDE stopped recognizing descriptive notation, and algebraic notation became the accepted international standard.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="230px">
File:Ms. Paris 1173.png|Chess diagram found in a French manuscript (1173) 
File:Jacob Köbel 1520.png|Chess diagram from [[Jacob Köbel]]'s German book about Mediaeval chess, ''Schachzabel Spiel'' (1520)
File:Chess diagram from Howard Staunton's "The Chess-Player's Handbook" (1947).png|Chess diagram showing algebraic notation in Howard Staunton's ''The Chess-Player's Handbook'' (1866)
</gallery>

==Piece names in various languages==
The table contains names for all the pieces as well as the words for {{em|chess}}, {{em|check}} and {{em|checkmate}} in several languages.<ref>Sources for this section include Wikipedia articles in various languages. [https://web.archive.org/web/20091027093550/http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Metro/9154/nap-pieces.htm Archived] 2009-10-25.</ref> Several languages use the Arabic [[loanword]] ''alfil'' for the piece called ''bishop'' in English; in this context it is a chess-specific term which no longer has its original meaning of "elephant".
{{chess names}}

==See also==
* [[Chess notation]]
* [[Chess annotation symbols]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|35em}}

==External links==
{{wikibooks|Chess|Notating The Game}}
{{wiktionary|algebraic notation|Appendix:Algebraic notation}}
*[https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/E012023 FIDE Laws of Chess] (see Appendix C. Algebraic Notation)

{{chess|sp=us}}

[[Category:Chess notation]]