Algebraic notation

A move in algebraic notation answers two questions: which piece moved, and where it went. The piece is a capital letter, with N used for the knight because K already stands for the king, and the destination is a square name, so Nf3 means a knight arrived on f3. Pawn moves carry no letter at all; e4 simply means a pawn reached e4.

Squares never change names. The files carry the letters a to h from White's left, the ranks the numbers 1 to 8 from White's side, and both players use the same coordinates, which is why one game score can be read by anyone.

A few extras complete the system. An x marks a capture, as in Bxc6, and a pawn capture always names the file the pawn came from, as in exd5. When two identical pieces could reach the same square, the file or rank of departure is added, as in Rad1 or N5f3. Castling is 0-0 or 0-0-0, which many books and programs print with the letter O; a plus sign marks check and # marks checkmate. For a promotion the new piece follows the square, written e8Q in FIDE's text and e8=Q in most software.

FIDE recognizes only this system for its own events, and players record their moves in it on the scoresheet.

Tip: write each move down right after you play it, and replay games from the move list alone to train visualization.

Also worth reading is Annotation symbols. Annotation symbols are the short marks added to written moves, such as + for check, # for checkmate, x for a capture and (=) for a draw offer, along with commentators' marks like ! and ?.

It sits close to Descriptive notation. Descriptive notation is the older system that records moves relative to each side's own pieces and ranks, such as P-K4 or N-KB3, and it has been largely replaced by algebraic notation.

Compare it with Disambiguation. Disambiguation is the extra letter or number added to a written move when two identical pieces can move to the same square, such as Nbd2 or R1e2, so the move reads only one way.

Knowing "Algebraic notation" is the easy part; what to practice next depends on your rating, and the improvement plans by rating band list the habits worth building at each level.

Related terms

• Coordinates

  Coordinates are the letters a to h along the files and the numbers 1 to 8 along the ranks that give every square of the chessboard a unique name, such as c3 or g7.

• Disambiguation

  Disambiguation is the extra letter or number added to a written move when two identical pieces can move to the same square, such as Nbd2 or R1e2, so the move reads only one way.

• Scoresheet

  A scoresheet is the paper or electronic form on which each player writes down all the moves of the game in algebraic notation, and which both players sign or approve at the end to confirm the result.

• PGN

  PGN is a text-file standard for chess games: header tags name the event, players and result, then the moves follow in algebraic notation, so databases, engines and websites can all import the same file.

• Long algebraic notation

  Long algebraic notation is the fuller form of algebraic notation in which each move lists its square of departure as well as its square of arrival, so the knight move Nf3 becomes Ng1-f3 and the pawn move e4 becomes e2-e4.

• Descriptive notation

  Descriptive notation is the older system that records moves relative to each side's own pieces and ranks, such as P-K4 or N-KB3, and it has been largely replaced by algebraic notation.

Guides that go further

• How to choose a chess coach

  What to decide first, the questions to ask, what a first lesson should show and the red flags to avoid.

• How much does chess coaching cost?

  Published rates for private, group and subscription chess coaching, with the source and the date of each.

• The first lesson

  A game review, a read on your level and a written study plan from George Li.

Sources

• FIDE Laws of Chess (taking effect from 1 January 2023), Article 8.1.1.1, read Oct 21, 2026.
• FIDE Laws of Chess (taking effect from 1 January 2023), Appendix C, read Oct 21, 2026.