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Step 1
First, note that all notation takes place from the prospective of the player playing White. Look at the picture to see how the ranks and files (rows and columns) are numbered. Each square can be named by combining the letter of its rank and number of its file. Some examples are shown.
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Step 2
While this may seem confusing at first, you will quickly learn to identify each of the 64 squares on the chessboard. Remember that if you are playing Black, you are sitting in front of the 8th rank. Note that official tournament boards are typically labeled with the coordinates which will help you.
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Step 3
The easiest move to notate is a pawn move. All you have to do is write the coordinates of the square that pawn moved into. For example, if you write e4, you'll know that a pawn moved into the e4 square. There will never be any ambiguity as to which pawn it was that moved.
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Step 4
Let's say White started the game by moving his pawn to e4, which is very common. We would write 1. e4. Black may follow with a pawn move to e5. If this move was being discussed out of context, we would write 1. …e5. The ellipsis shows that we're referring to Black's move. Of course if you were using a standard chess journal or even any notebook, the two moves would just be written side-by-side as 1. e4 e5.
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Step 5
If anything but a pawn moves, we need to use a letter to represent the piece. We use the first letter of the name of the piece, with the exception of the knight, for which we use N. This is because we use K for the king.
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Step 6
A common second move for White is Nf3. This means that a knight moved to the f3 square. Sometimes (but not at the start of the game) it may be the case that either of White's knights could have gone to f3 from their current position. In this case we must use another letter or number to indicate the origin of the knight. For example, Ndf3 means that a knight which started on the d file moved to f3, and N5f3 means that a knight which started on the fifth rank moved to f3. Use whatever letter or number makes the matter unambiguous. This can be tricky and is often overlooked by beginners.
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Step 7
We use an x to represent a capture. For example, Bxc7 means that a bishop captured whatever piece was on c7. In the case of pawns, if there is no ambiguity, we would typically write exd to show that a pawn from the e file captured a piece on the d file. If there is any ambiguity, which could potentially occur in an en passant situation, or if two pawns are on the same file that could both capture something, we could write exd6 to show that the e-file pawn specifically ended up on d6 after its capture. We always notate where it ended.
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Step 8
To show castling we use O-O for kingside, and O-O-O for queenside. To show promotion we use one of the following: e8Q, e8=Q, e8(Q), or e8/Q. You'll know what it means when replaying the game. To show check, write a + sign after the move. To show checkmate, write a # sign after the move.
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Step 9
Notate a win for White on the next line by writing 1-0, a win for Black by writing 0-1, and a draw by writing ½-½. You could also include the word "resigns" if applicable, or for that matter any other notes, such as the player running out of time, reason for draw, etc.
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Step 10
Optionally use any of the following symbols after a move. You are more likely to see these or use these after a game has been fully analyzed. !!=a good or surprising move. !=an excellent move. ?=a bad move. ??=a blunder. !?=an interesting move that might not have been best. A dubious move that may not work out well. Have fun!
Comments
sunshine11219 said
on 1/6/2009 Great article. Now i wanna play hubby in chess lol