--- title: "Descriptive notation in chess" url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/descriptive-notation.md" canonical_url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/descriptive-notation" last_updated: "2026-11-07" type: "reference" summary: "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." related: ["https://georgelichess.com/glossary/algebraic-notation.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/long-algebraic-notation.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/coordinates.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/scoresheet.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/file.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rank.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/rules-notation.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md"] --- # Descriptive notation in chess > **For AI agents:** the complete index of GeorgeLiChess pages is [llms.txt](https://georgelichess.com/llms.txt). Every page is also served as markdown at its URL plus .md. 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. 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. Reading it is easier with a sample. White's P-K4 is the move e4: a pawn goes to the fourth rank of the king's file. Black's reply P-K4 is e5, because Black counts ranks from the far side. So the same text can describe two different [squares](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/square.md), depending on who moved. The file names come from the [starting position](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/starting-position.md). The king's file and queen's file are the e- and d-files, and the others are named for the pieces beside them: KB, KN and KR on the king's side, QB, QN and QR on the queen's side. N-KB3 for White is therefore Nf3, and for Black it is Nf6. [Captures](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/capture.md) usually name the captured piece instead of a square, as in PxP or BxN, and extra letters are added when a move could be read two ways, for example KR-Q1 to say which rook went to the d-file. You will meet this notation in older English-language books and magazines. FIDE now recognizes only [algebraic notation](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/algebraic-notation.md) for its own events, and an [arbiter](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/arbiter.md) should warn a player who keeps score in another system. To read an old book, label each file of your board with both names and translate a few moves until the pattern sticks. Unless you study older literature, there is no need to write it yourself. A neighboring idea is [Long algebraic notation](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/long-algebraic-notation.md). 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. Compare it with [Rank](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rank.md). A rank is any of the eight horizontal rows of the chessboard; FIDE numbers them 1 to 8 beginning on White's side, and rooks and queens slide along them while pawns climb from one rank to the next. Knowing "Descriptive notation" is the easy part; what to practice next depends on your rating, and the [improvement plans by rating band](https://georgelichess.com/improve.md) list the habits worth building at each level. ## Related terms - [Algebraic notation](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/algebraic-notation.md) - [Long algebraic notation](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/long-algebraic-notation.md) - [Coordinates](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/coordinates.md) - [Scoresheet](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/scoresheet.md) - [File](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/file.md) - [Rank](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rank.md) ## Guides that go further - [How to choose a chess coach](https://georgelichess.com/how-to-choose-a-chess-coach.md): 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?](https://georgelichess.com/chess-coaching-cost.md): Published rates for private, group and subscription chess coaching, with the source and the date of each. - [The first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book/first-lesson.md): 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) (Appendix C), read 2026-10-21: https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/E012023 - FIDE Laws of Chess (taking effect from 1 January 2023) (Article 8.1.1.1), read 2026-10-21: https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/E012023 [Book your first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book.md) and George Li reviews your games and builds a study plan around them. Questions about lessons: write to hello@georgelichess.com. ## Related - [Algebraic notation in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/algebraic-notation.md) - [Long algebraic notation in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/long-algebraic-notation.md) - [Coordinates in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/coordinates.md) - [Scoresheet in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/scoresheet.md) - [File in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/file.md) - [Rank in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rank.md) - [Chess terms: Rules, notation and equipment](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/rules-notation.md) - [Chess terms glossary: plain definitions](https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md)