How To Learn Chess Notation

Chess notation how do this work in an actual chess tournament? How do we read chess notation from chess books?

When I kickoff started learning chess from my dad I idea I need to know how the sequence of moves (chess openings) is being played on an actual chessboard.

So I will try to memorize them, but most of the times I demand to inquire my dad again about the moves or main lines of the Queen'southward Gambit accepted, etc…

Of course, my dad will evidence me the moves, just sometimes he is too busy with other activities, and what he suggests is only read some chess volume that he has on his table.

The only trouble for me that time was the moves are shown in numbers and letters; I did not understand how to read the chess notations. Then my dad did teach me how to read and replay the moves on the actual chessboard.

I was so happy at that time, and I started going through a lot of chess plays in that volume.

Chess note is non that difficult to learn and for those who are looking for a complete guide on how to read chess notation and discover the special symbols used on a chess book, then go along reading below.

Here is an article I made most how to learn and read chess notations.

The complete how-to learn chess notations you demand to know for beginners

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Commencement, why practice nosotros fifty-fifty have chess notations?

A long time ago, chess books were published by authors who explicate the moves of a particular game literally with words.

This became a problem for some readers, and they don't accept an excellent method to read and follow chess moves that were written on chess books.

So, that is why nosotros have this chess note that is more convenient and easier for us to replay or keep track of a particular chess game.

Second, what is chess notation exactly?

Chess notation is just a way to read the moves of chess pieces on a chessboard. The well-nigh commonly used course of reading chess note is by using the algebraic note (yes, it is a mathematical coordinate, merely much easier to understand) 🙂

This algebraic notation assigns coordinates of a combination of numbers and letters on a specific square on the chessboard.

So, the numbers and messages are assigned on a raw and files.

The raws were assigned by numbers, and the files were assigned with messages.

Chess Note Nuts: Where do the messages and numbers start on the chessboard?

The letters volition always get-go from left to right when you lot are playing White and from your right to left if you are playing Black.

With numbers, you only need to remember that the number 1 is going to on the White side, and the number 8 volition exist on the Black side.

Below is an epitome of chessboard showing the raws and files assigned with correct numbers and letters on the chessboard:

Note: If your chessboard does not have the letters and numbers, follow the image above and write the letters and numbers on your chessboard to exist able to follow along with this guide.

Click here to cheque out my recommended chess ready.

Chess Note: How do you use the messages and numbers to read the squares on a chessboard?

To read the chess notation using the messages and numbers, y'all need to look at the intersection of both the numbers and letters.

And you lot start by reading the alphabetic character get-go before a number…

If you draw a line that intersects the letters eastward and number iv, and you combine the letter and the number that square is now chosen e4.

Below is an epitome of a chessboard showing the square e4:

The wrong style to read this is my number kickoff and and then alphabetic character second, for example, 4e…

Remember to read the bottom letters of the board and so 2d is the letters on the side of the board.

Now I want y'all to do reading the squares of the board, can you lot name the squares below with the pointer pointing towards it?

I hope you were able to become the right reply for this example.

The correct answers are f7,g6, and b2.

What is the right way to write the letters and numbers of the squares of a chessboard?

The correct way to write messages and numbers for the squares of a chessboard is by using modest messages and just the usual way to write numbers.

You cannot write E4 on your game, and you lot cannot interpret this as role of a chessboard.

As you lot can see in the chessboard, the letters are small-scale, non capital letters.

There is a reason for this, and I'yard going to explain it to you a little bit later.

Some other thing you lot need to recollect is that you cannot write numbers as words, for example, it is wrong to write "efour," to avoid committing mistakes in writing the chess notation for squares is that you lot demand to expect at the exact equivalent numbers and letters on the board.

How do you write chess note for the chess pieces?

Now that yous know how to read and identify the squares on a chessboard.

It is time to learn how to write the chess note for your chess pieces.

The chess pieces are written with letters also, the aforementioned with files, only the only difference is that the chess pieces letters are written in majuscule letters.

The chess rules for every chess pieces are designated with messages, and you lot distinguish the chess pieces past the first letter of the alphabet of the pieces.

Merely there are two exemptions for this chess dominion:

1. Pawn is not identified by its first letter; instead, pawns are determined past the absence of a letter and uses the chess notation of chess board'due south foursquare. For example, pawns use e4,f7,g6, and b2.

two. Except for the Knight, we use a dissimilar letter to place Knight in a game. And so, below are the messages used to identify each chess pieces on the board.

King is identified with the chess annotation alphabetic character K
Queen is identified with the chess notation letter Q
Rook is recognized with the chess annotation letter R
Bishop is identified with the chess notation letter B, and
Knight does non use the K, but instead, it is identified with chess notation the letter N

The chess notation for the chess pieces are not difficult to remember, and you only need to keep in mind the 2 exemption for the Knight and the Pawn.

How to write and read both the chess pieces note and the destination squares note together?

Now that y'all empathize the chess notation for squares and got an idea for the chess pieces chess notations…Then information technology is time to learn how get-go to write both chess notations together.

When writing chess pieces and squares notation, you demand to write the chess piece'due south alphabetic character first and then write down the square that it is occupying or is going to occupy.

For example, Ke2, Qd2, or Ra2… The start letters are the chess pieces, and the following two notations are pertaining to the square of the chessboard.

So, how do y'all read that?

For Ke2, K is the King'southward chess note, and e2 is the foursquare intersection of eastward file and rank ii. Y'all read that as King e2, Rex to e2 or Rex moves to e2.

For Qd2, Q is the Queen's chess notation, and d2 is the square intersection of d file and rank 2. You tin can read that as Queen d2, Queen to d2, or Queen moves to d2.

And…

For Ra2, R is Rook'due south chess notation, and a2 is the square intersection of a file and rank ii. You can read that as Rook a2, Rook to a2, or Rook moves to a2.

See the image below for this example:

At present that you know and understand how this works, go ahead and practice answering the image below:

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What do the actual moves of each chess player's chess note would expect like?

Ok, so if you are going to grab a chess book you will discover that at that place are ii moves per number, similar this, 1. e4 e5 then adjacent is two. d4 d5, etc…

If for example, the whole duration of the game went on for 30, that would be multiplied past two (2 players) so a full of 60 moves.

Every ane equal turns or moves of both players will ever exist written per number.

And always call up that the first chess notation is always white'south move and the second chess notation is the black's move.

How to read common chess symbols for chess notation?

You may have encountered from my other articles that the chess notations are shown every bit symbols or figures for King, Queen, Rook, Bishop, Pawn, and Knight.

That is still chess notation, but instead of messages, you tin identify the chess pieces past its figure or symbols.

And you read information technology the aforementioned fashion as to how I've explained on how to sympathize both the chess pieces annotation and the square notation.

To give you an idea, see below prototype of the most mutual chess symbols used for chess pieces.

Yous may say that this is a lot easier to read from a chess book, you are correct…

But other chess books uses the letters, non symbols when notating chess games.

How to write chess note for capturing chess pieces?

This fourth dimension y'all would like to larn how to write chess notation for capturing chess pieces…

The universal chess symbol for captured or capturing chess pieces is the symbol "x"…

So, if you lot want your Male monarch to capture a chess piece like a Knight and write information technology downward on a chess note sheet, y'all would write the symbol "10" in between the pawn and the Knight and then indicating the destination square.

For example, King captures Knight on e5, and this will exist the chess notation KxNe5…

See chess the chess image below for this example:

Another case is if you want your pawn to capture another pawn.

In the image below, pawn on d4 will capture the pawn on e5. You are going to write that every bit dxe5.

For your simple practice, write down the chess notation for the beneath image:

How do you write chess notation for a move that two same types of chess pieces can occupy?

As you know now that chess pieces and their chess notation or chess symbol can sometimes identify two same types of chess pieces.

There are two Rooks, two Bishops, and two Knights for each side…confusion will come for a new chess player on how practise you place which pocket-sized chess piece should move on a specific foursquare or capture a chess piece.

The answer is by writing the letter or file that the chess piece is located, and and so adding the destination foursquare of the chess slice.

If for example, you have two Rooks that can both occupy a square, what you lot need to do is add together the alphabetic character of the file of the Rook that you lot want to move on that particular destination square.

See image below for this example:

If you want the Rook on c file to occupy the c4 square, and so your chess notation is going to exist Rcc4, if you read this chess notation that would exist Rook c to c4.

If you desire the other Rook on g file to occupy the c4 foursquare, then y'all are going to write this every bit Rgc4, that ways Rook from g moves to c4.

Now that you know how to write chess notation for ii same types of chess pieces, I have another simple practice for yous.

Write downwards the chess notation for both of this Knight going to the aforementioned destination square:

Come across chess image below for this case:

I hope you lot got information technology right if you nonetheless have some clarification yous tin read the example above ane more time.

How to write special chess moves as a chess note?

I think right now you are already exploring some other types of moves, peculiarly chess moves that yous are request how to write every bit chess notation. Ok, I am going to list down special moves that nosotros are going to larn how to turn into a chess notation:

Chess notation for kingside castling
Chess note for queenside castling
Chess annotation for pawn promotion
Chess notation en passant
Chess note for check
Chess notation for checkmate

Those are half dozen special moves that nosotros are going to turn into a chess notation:

Chess notation for kingside castling

We all know that Male monarch can castle on either the queenside or the kingside given that there is no obstruction between the Male monarch and the Rook, and it is legal to exercise and then…

If you want to indicate that you accept castled on the kingside, you need to write "O-O" on your notation sheet…

And, if you are following a chess move from a book, and then you now know that if y'all see this chess notation "O-O," yous sympathise that the chess player castled on the Kingside.

Note: For castling whether kingside or queenside, the "O" is not a numerical number it is the capital O.

Chess notation for queenside castling

The same thing with castling on the queenside, it is legal to practice so as long as there is no obstruction betwixt the Rex and Rook.

The chess notation for castling on the queenside is "O-O-O".

Seeing this in a chess book, and trying to replay the move on your chessboard, this means you have to castle on the queenside.

Chess annotation for pawn promotion

If you take your pawn set up to become promoted on the opposite of the board, you need to write the right chess annotation for this special movement.

I have seen two ways this is beingness written in a chess book, 1 fashion is by writing the chess piece at the end of the pawn, and the other fashion is writing equal sign later on the pawn.

Some chess experts discourage the apply of the equal sign for pawn promotion, and I practise suggest you follow the first fashion, which is the virtually mutual method I have seen in portraying pawn promotion.

To give y'all an instance, promoting a pawn on d8 to Queen will expect like this d8Q.

Chess note en passant

You can place an en passant motility in a chess book by seeing this notation "e.p."…

If you are non familiar with en passant it is a special movement past pawn, wherein it can capture a pawn who advances ii moves from its starting square, information technology is the same as if the pawn moved one foursquare and an enemy pawn tin capture information technology.

When y'all are going to write en passant move, yous need to write it at final, for example, "exd6e.p."…

Yous include writing the destination square of the pawn always, then the e.p. for en passant move.

Chess notation for check

For beginners, yous may meet this chess move a lot in a chess book and knowing what chess note to encounter or use when this happens is essential.

When you see the notation "+" on a book or a chess notation canvass, that but ways that the chess piece is checking the King.

The style you write it or come across it on books is that it will be at the terminate, here is an case of a bank check using chess note… Re7+, the annotation + is added to the chess piece that checked the King.

Chess note for checkmate

When a chess game is over, and you were able to checkmate your opponent, you will demand to utilise some other chess notation to signify that your opponent's Male monarch is checkmated.

To show this in a chess note sheet or run into it in a chess book is that you will apply "#" as a chess notation or even "++" can be used for checkmate note.

You are going to write it the same style equally for pawn promotion, en passant, and check move… It has to be placed on the end of the motility, like this example, Q6# or Q6++.

When I become through a chess book, and I am looking for a chess game that has a checkmate catastrophe, I browse and expect for this note "#" or "++"… 🙂

Other special chess note and symbols meaning in the game of chess

Now, other chess notations can be added in a chess game. Normally, this annotation is being used by chess analysts.

But, very useful if you are going through some chess games that you want to translate if that particular movement is excellent or a terrible move.

Here are other special chess note and their meaning in a chess game:

" … " if you meet this three periods in chess note or a chess volume, that denotes information technology is Blackness'southward motion.
"!" if you see this assertion point on a chess note or a chess book, that means the move is good.
"!!" and if you come across two exclamation indicate that means that motion is more than good or information technology is an splendid movement.
"?" if you see a question marking afterwards a chess move on a notation, that means the move is non good at all, it is a bad move or a poor move past the chess player.
"??" now a double question marking on a chess notation is not a good sign, this means that the move is actually bad, and information technology is a blunder move for the chess player.
"!?" if yous see a combination of an exclamation point first and so a question mark, that could mean that the move is practiced or interesting merely not the best move on that part of the game.
"?!" now, if y'all see some other combination of exclamation and question marker wherein the question mark is first then followed past an exclamation point, then that is considered a dubious move but not hands disprove.
"TN" or Theoretical Novelty, when seen in chess annotation, means that the movement has never been played earlier in that specific chess opening.
"=" when you encounter this symbol this could mean that a chess player has offered a draw during the game, or what other chess experts say that it involves an equal opportunity or chances for both the chess players.
"+=" if you find this notation on a chess game then it just means that the White is just a footling flake better than blackness.
"=+" for this ane the equal sign is written first then afterwards the plus sign ways that Black is a petty bit better or slightly improve than the white player.
"+-" now, if y'all see a plus sign and a minus sign or a hyphen, plus symbol is written outset earlier the minus sign, and then it means that White is really better or much better than its Black opponent.
"−+" when you lot meet that minus sign comes kickoff then the plus sign and so you can say that or know that Black has an advantage over the White chess role player.
"∞" if yous have encountered this infinity symbol or annotation on a chess book, this means that in the current game of chess at that place is no clear advantage whether White is winning or Black is winning.
"=/∞" if you see this symbol where an equal sign and an infinity sign are together this means that whoever is down on material has a compensation material, basically a player who tin can still dictate the game or control the game even if that actor is down on cloth.
"1:0" if you see this at the finish of chess game this ways that White has won the game either by checkmate or resignation by Blackness.
"0:one" Now if you see the opposite, where 0 comes first, then it means that the Blackness has won the game by checkmate or by the resignation of White.

This notation or chess symbols are always written after a note move, here is an example for a brilliant motion, Qe5!, and some other example for blunder move will look similar this, Qe6??

Remember, that this chess notation or symbols are the analysis of the game, you may encounter some of these chess moves on your chess book.

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Wrapping Upward

Learning how to read and write chess notation is a valuable skill for chess players, specially for beginners.

Y'all can at present grab a chess book with all of the best chess games that take been notated, and you can now follow the game by yourself or with your chess bus or with your family and friends.

This is one of the essential skills a beginner chess player should develop and exercise during a game or if you are simulating previous games.

As you tin encounter, this skill is not that difficult to larn, and you need to give at to the lowest degree 10 minutes or less to read this commodity, and and so you lot can do writing or analyzing chess games with chess notations immediately.

I do hope this commodity has given you some useful insights about learning how chess notation works if you exercise have any comments or ideas you want to share, leave your comment below.

Have fun going through some sometime chess books and translate some chess annotation! Bask! 🙂

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