Algebraic notation

Algebraic notation is the standard system for writing chess moves. If you learn to read it, you can follow the best players’ games, study books, and record your own tournament games. It’s not hard — in a few minutes you’ll understand any notation you see.

How algebraic notation works

See the board divided into 64 squares? Each square has its own name, and that’s the whole trick:

• the files go from letter a to letter h (left to right)
• the ranks go from 1 to 8 (bottom to top, from White’s side)

Notation combines those two pieces of information to tell you exactly where each piece ends up. For example, e4 is the square on file e, rank 4. That simple.

How pieces are written

Each piece has its own abbreviation. In English we use these letters:

Notice the pawn: it has no letter of its own. If you see just a square, like e4, you know a pawn moved there. Every other piece always has its abbreviation in front.

Important symbols

Let’s go through the symbols you’ll see in any game:

• x — capture (the piece takes another)
• + — check
• # — checkmate
• O-O — kingside castling
• O-O-O — queenside castling
• =Q, =R, =B, =N — pawn promotion (indicates which piece it promotes to)

How to read a move

Think of notation as a very compressed sentence. What does it tell you? First, which piece moves. Then, where it goes. And if needed, it adds whether there was a capture, check, mate, or promotion.

Let’s take an example: Nf3 means the knight moves to f3. And exd5 means a pawn on the e-file captures on d5. See the pattern? Once it clicks, you read it automatically.

Use the viewer to see it on the board

Below you have a preloaded example with the Italian Game. Go through it move by move and connect each notation with the actual position. You can also paste your own PGN or write a FEN to explore any position.

Why it’s worth learning right away

Algebraic notation isn’t a bureaucratic formality. It’s your most powerful study tool. With it you can:

1. review your own games and spot where you went wrong
2. follow explanations of openings, middlegames and endgames
3. study with books, videos and engines without missing anything

Once you master it, written chess stops being a code and becomes as natural as reading text. I promise.

If you want to round out the basics, continue with FEN notation and the rules of the game.