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How to Read & Write Algebraic Notation (Scorekeeping)

Chess has a universal language. A player from Japan can look at a scoresheet written by a player from Brazil and replay the game perfectly. This system is called Algebraic Notation. In tournaments, recording your moves is mandatory. Here is how to do it.

1. The Grid

The board is a grid of 64 squares.

• Files (Columns): Lettered a through h (Left to Right from White's perspective).
• Ranks (Rows): Numbered 1 through 8 (Bottom to Top).

2. The Pieces

Each piece (except the Pawn) has a capital letter abbreviation:

• K = King
• Q = Queen
• R = Rook
• B = Bishop
• N = Knight (Since 'K' is taken)
• (None) = Pawn (We just write the destination square, e.g., "e4")

3. Writing a Move

Format:

• Be5 (Bishop moves to e5)
• Nf3 (Knight moves to f3)
• c5 (Pawn moves to c5)

4. Special Symbols

Captures (x)

When a piece takes another, use 'x'.
Example: Bxe5 (Bishop captures on e5).
Pawn Capture: exd5 (Pawn on e-file captures on d5).

Castling

O-O = Kingside (Short) Castle.
O-O-O = Queenside (Long) Castle.

Check & Mate

+ = Check (e.g., Bb5+)
# = Checkmate (e.g., Qh7#)

Ambiguity

If two Knights can jump to the same square (e.g., d2), clarify which one moved by adding the starting file or rank.
Example: Nbd2 (Knight from b-file to d2).

5. Annotation (Commentary)

When analyzing, we use symbols to describe the quality of a move:

• ! = Good move
• !! = Brilliant move
• ? = Mistake
• ?? = Blunder (Loses the game)
• ?! = Dubious / Risky