Algebraic notation (chess)
Algebraic notation (or AN) is the standard method for recording and describing the moves in a game of chess. It is based on a system of coordinates to uniquely identify each square on the chessboard. It is used by most books, magazines, and newspapers. In English-speaking countries, the parallel method of descriptive notation was generally used in chess publications until about 1980. A few players still use descriptive notation, but it is no longer recognized by FIDE, the international chess governing body.
Algebraic notation exists in various forms and languages and is based on a system developed by Philipp Stamma. Stamma used the modern names of the squares, but he used p for pawn moves and the original file of a piece (a through h) instead of the initial letter of the piece name.[1]
The term "algebraic notation" may be considered a misnomer as the system is unrelated to algebra. Other terms such as "standard notation" and "coordinate notation" have been proposed, but the traditional term persists.
Naming the squares[]
Each square of the chessboard is identified by a unique coordinate pair—a letter and a number—from White's point of view. The vertical columns of squares, called files, are labeled a through h from White's left (the queenside) to right (the kingside). The horizontal rows of squares, called ranks, are numbered 1 to 8 starting from White's side of the board. Thus each square has a unique identification of file letter followed by rank number. For example, the initial square of White's king is designated as "e1".
Naming the pieces[]
Each piece type (other than pawns) is identified by an uppercase letter. English-speaking players use the letters K for king, Q for queen, R for rook, B for bishop, and N for knight (since K is already used). S (from the German Springer) was also used for the knight in the early days of algebraic notation and is still used in some chess problems (where N stands for nightrider, a popular fairy chess piece).
Different initial letters are used by other languages. In chess literature, especially that intended for an international audience, the language-specific letters are often replaced by universally recognized piece symbols; for example, ♞c6 in place of Nc6. This style is known as Figurine Algebraic Notation (FAN). The Unicode Miscellaneous Symbols set includes all the symbols necessary for FAN. In order to display or print these symbols, one has to have one or more fonts with good Unicode support installed on the computer, that the Web page, or word processor document, etc., uses.[2]
In both standard algebraic notation and FAN, pawns are not identified by an uppercase letter, but rather by the absence of one. Distinguishing between pawns is not done when recording moves (captures made by pawns are an exception and indicated differently as explained below), since only one pawn can move to a given square.
Notation for moves[]
Each move of a piece is indicated by the piece's uppercase letter, plus the coordinate of the destination square. For example, Be5 (bishop moves to e5), Nf3 (knight moves to f3). For pawn moves, a letter indicating pawn is not used, only the destination square is given. For example, c5 (pawn moves to c5).
Captures []
When a piece makes a capture, an "x" (or the multiplication sign "×") is inserted immediately before the destination square. For example, Bxe5 (bishop captures the piece on e5). When a pawn makes a capture, the file from which the pawn departed is used to identify the pawn. For example, exd5 (pawn on the e-file captures the piece on d5). In older German and Russian publications a colon (:) is sometimes used instead of "x", either in the same place the "x" would go (B:e5) or at the end (Be5:).
En passant captures are indicated by specifying the capturing pawn's file of departure, the "x", the destination square (not the square of the captured pawn), and (optionally) the suffix "e.p." indicating the capture was en passant.[4] For example, exd6 e.p.
Some texts, such as the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings, omit any indication that a capture has been made. (For example, Be5 instead of Bxe5; ed6 instead of exd6 or exd6 e.p.) When it is unambiguous to do so, a pawn capture is sometimes described by specifying only the files involved (exd or even ed). These shortened forms are sometimes called minimal or abbreviated algebraic notation.
Disambiguating moves[]
a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
8 | 8 | ||||||||
7 | 7 | ||||||||
6 | 6 | ||||||||
5 | 5 | ||||||||
4 | 4 | ||||||||
3 | 3 | ||||||||
2 | 2 | ||||||||
1 | 1 | ||||||||
a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h |
When two (or more) identical pieces can move to the same square, the moving piece is uniquely identified by specifying the piece's letter, followed by (in descending order of preference):
- the file of departure (if they differ); or
- the rank of departure (if the files are the same but the ranks differ); or
- both the file and rank of departure (if neither alone is sufficient to identify the piece – which occurs only in rare cases where a player has three or more identical pieces able to reach the same square, as a result of one or more pawns having promoted).
In the diagram, both black rooks could legally move to f8, so the move of the d8-rook to f8 is disambiguated as Rdf8. For the white rooks on the a-file which could both move to a3, it is necessary to provide the rank of the moving piece, i.e., R1a3.
In the case of the white queen on h4 moving to e1, neither the rank nor file alone are sufficient to disambiguate from the other white queens. As such, this move is written Qh4e1.
As above, an "x" can be inserted to indicate a capture; for example, if the final case were a capture, it would be written as Qh4xe1.
Pawn promotion[]
When a pawn promotes, the piece promoted to is indicated at the end of the move notation, for example: e8Q (promoting to queen). In standard FIDE notation, no punctuation is used; in Portable Game Notation (PGN), as well as in Chess Life and English Wikipedia, pawn promotion is indicated by the equals sign (e8=Q). Other formulations used in chess literature include parentheses (e.g. e8(Q)) and a forward slash (e.g. e8/Q).
Draw offer[]
FIDE specifies draw offers to be recorded by an equals sign with parentheses "(=)" after the move on the score sheet.[5] This is not usually included in published game scores.
Castling []
Castling is indicated by the special notations 0-0 (for kingside castling) and 0-0-0 (queenside castling). While the FIDE standard [6] is to use the digit zero (0-0 and 0-0-0), PGN uses the uppercase letter O (O-O and O-O-O).[a]
Check []
A move that places the opponent's king in check usually has the symbol "+" appended. Alternatively, sometimes a dagger (†) or the abbreviation "ch" is used. Some publications indicate a discovered check with an abbreviation such as "dis ch", or with a specific symbol. Double check is usually indicated the same as check, but is sometimes represented specifically as "dbl ch" or "++", particularly in older chess literature. The Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings omits any indication of check.
Checkmate []
Checkmate at the completion of moves is represented by the symbol "#" in standard FIDE notation and PGN. The word mate is commonly used instead; occasionally a double dagger (‡) or a double plus sign (++) is used, although the double plus sign is also used to represent "double check" when a king is under attack by 2 enemy pieces simultaneously.[citation needed] A checkmate is represented by "≠" (the not equal sign) in the macOS chess application. In Russian and ex-USSR publications, where captures are indicated by ":", checkmate can also be represented by "X", "x", or "x".
End of game []
The notation 1–0 at the completion of moves indicates that White won, 0–1 indicates that Black won, and ½–½ indicates a draw. In case of forfeit, scores 0–0, ½–0, and 0–½ are also possible. If player(s) lost by default, results are +/−, −/+, or −/−.
Often there is no indication regarding how a player won or lost (other than checkmate, see above), so simply 1–0 or 0–1 may be written to show that one player resigned or lost due to time control or forfeit. (Similarly, there is more than one way for a game to end in a draw.) Sometimes direct information is given by the words "White resigns" or "Black resigns", though this is not considered part of the notation but rather a return to the surrounding narrative text.
Similar notations[]
Besides the FIDE standard (or short) algebraic notation (SAN) already described, several similar systems have been used.
Long algebraic notation[]
Some computer programs (and people) use a variant of algebraic chess notation termed long algebraic notation or fully expanded algebraic notation. In long algebraic notation, both the starting and ending squares are specified, for example: e2e4. Sometimes these are separated by a hyphen, e.g. Nb1-c3, while captures are indicated by an "x", e.g. Rd3xd7. Long algebraic notation takes more space and is no longer commonly used in print, however it has the advantage of clarity. Some books using primarily short algebraic notation use the long notation instead of the disambiguation forms described earlier.
A form of long algebraic notation (without piece names) is also used by the Universal Chess Interface (UCI) standard, which is a common way for graphical chess programs to communicate with chess engines (e.g., for AI).
ICCF numeric notation[]
In international correspondence chess the use of algebraic notation may cause confusion, since different languages employ different names (and therefore different initial letters) for the pieces, and some players may be unfamiliar with the Latin alphabet. Hence, the standard for transmitting moves in this form of chess is ICCF numeric notation, which identifies squares using numerical co-ordinates, and identifies both the departure and destination squares. For example, the move 1.e4 is rendered as 1.5254. In recent years, the majority of correspondence games have been played on on-line servers rather than by email or post, leading to a decline in the use of ICCF numeric notation.
PGN[]
Portable Game Notation (PGN) is a text-based file format for storing chess games, which uses standard English algebraic notation and a small amount of markup.[8] PGN can be processed by almost all chess software, as well as being easily readable by humans.
Formatting[]
A game or series of moves is generally written in one of two ways.
a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
8 | 8 | ||||||||
7 | 7 | ||||||||
6 | 6 | ||||||||
5 | 5 | ||||||||
4 | 4 | ||||||||
3 | 3 | ||||||||
2 | 2 | ||||||||
1 | 1 | ||||||||
a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h |
- In two columns, as White/Black pairs, preceded by the move number and a period:
- 1. e4 e5
- 2. Nf3 Nc6
- 3. Bb5 a6
- Horizontally:
- 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6
Moves may be interspersed with commentary (annotations). When the game score resumes with a Black move, an ellipsis (...) fills the position of the White move, for example:
- 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3
- White attacks the black e-pawn.
- 2... Nc6
- Black defends and develops simultaneously.
- 3. Bb5
- White plays the Ruy Lopez.
- 3... a6
- Black elects Morphy's Defence.
History[]
Descriptive notation was usual in the Middle Ages in Europe. A form of algebraic chess notation that seems to have been borrowed from Muslim chess, however, appeared in Europe in a 12th century manuscript referred to as “MS. Paris Fr. 1173 (PP.)”. The files run from a to h, just as they do in the current standard algebraic notation. The ranks, however, are also designated by letters, with the exception of the 8th rank which is distinct because it has no letter. The ranks are lettered in reverse – from the 7th to the 1st: k, l, m, n, o, p, q.[9]
Another system of notation using only letters appears in a book of Mediaeval chess, Rechenmeister Jacob Köbel's Schachzabel Spiel of 1520.[9]
Algebraic notation is described in 1847 by Howard Staunton in his book The Chess-Player's Handbook. Staunton credits the idea to German authors, and in particular to "Alexandre, Jaenisch, and the Handbuch [des Schachspiels]."[10]
Chess diagram found in a French manuscript (1173)
Chess diagram from Jacob Köbel's German book about Mediaeval chess, Schachzabel Spiel (1520)
Chess diagram showing algebraic notation in Howard Staunton's The Chess-Player's Handbook (1866)
Piece names in various languages[]
The table contains names for all the pieces as well as the words for chess, check, and checkmate in several languages.[11] Several languages use the Arabic loanword alfil for the piece called bishop in English; in this context it is a chess-specific term which no longer has its original meaning of "elephant".
Language | King | Queen | Rook | Bishop | Knight | Pawn | Chess | Check | Checkmate/Mate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
figure | ♔ ♚ | ♕ ♛ | ♖ ♜ | ♗ ♝ | ♘ ♞ | ♙ ♟ | n./a. | + or † | # or ++ or ‡ |
Afrikaans | K Koning king |
D Dame lady |
T Toring tower |
L Loper runner |
R Ruiter rider |
(P) Pion |
Skaak | Skaak | Skaakmat |
Albanian | M Mbreti king |
D Dama / Mbretëresha lady / queen |
T Torra tower |
F Fili / Oficeri elephant / officer |
K Kali horse |
(U) Ushtari soldier |
Shahu | Shah | Shah mat |
Arabic | م مَلِك (malik) king |
و وزير (wazïr) vizier |
ر رخ / طابية (rukhkh / ṭābiya) fortress / castle |
ف فيل (fīl) elephant |
ح حصان (ħiṣān) horse |
ب بيدق / عسكري (baidaq / `askarī) pawn / soldier |
شطرنج (shaṭranj) | كِش مَلِك (kish malik) | كِش مات (kish māt) |
Azerbaijani | Ş Şah shah |
V Vəzir vizier |
T Top cannon |
F Fil elephant |
A At horse |
P Piyada foot soldier |
Şahmat | şah shah |
mat mat |
Armenian | Ա Արքա (Ark῾a) king |
Թ Թագուհի (T῾agowhi) queen |
Ն Նավակ (Navak) ship |
Փ Փիղ (P῾ił) elephant |
Ձ Ձի (Dzi) horse |
Զ Զինվոր (Zinvor) soldier |
Շախմատ (Šaxmat) Ճատրակ (Čatrak) |
Շախ (Šax) | Մատ (Mat) |
Basque | E Erregea king |
D Dama lady |
G Gaztelua castle |
A Alfila |
Z Zalduna knight |
(P) Peoia pawn |
Xake | Xake | Xake mate |
Belarusian (Taraškievica) | К кароль king |
Вз візыр vizier |
Лд ладзьдзя rook |
А афіцэр officer |
В вершнік rider |
(Л) латнік pawn |
Шахматы | Шах | Мат |
Bengali | R রাজা (rājā) King |
M মন্ত্রী (montri) Minister |
N নৌকা (noukā) Boat |
H গজ / হাতি (gôj / hāti) Elephant |
G ঘোড়া (ghoṛā) Horse |
B বোড়ে / সৈন্য (boṛe / śoinno) Walker/Troop |
দাবা (dābā) | কিস্তি (kisti) Check |
কিস্তিমাত (kistimāt) Checkmate |
Bulgarian | Ц цар king |
Д дама lady |
Т топ cannon |
О офицер officer |
К кон horse |
(П) пешка |
Шахмат / Шах | Шах | (Шах и) мат |
Catalan | R rei |
D dama / reina lady / queen |
T torre tower |
A alfil |
C cavall horse |
(P) peó |
Escacs | Escac / Xec | Escac i mat |
Chinese | K 王 (wáng) king |
Q 后 (hòu) queen |
R 車 (jū) chariot |
B 象 (xiàng) elephant |
N 馬 (mǎ) horse |
(P) 兵 (bīng) soldier |
國際象棋 (guójì xiàngqí) international chess |
將軍 (jiāngjūn) |
將死 (jiāng sǐ) |
Czech | K král king |
D dáma lady |
V věž tower |
S střelec shooter |
J jezdec rider |
(P) pěšec foot soldier |
Šachy | Šach | Mat |
Danish | K konge king |
D dronning queen |
T tårn tower |
L løber runner |
S springer jumper |
(B) bonde peasant |
Skak | Skak | Skakmat |
Dutch | K koning king |
D dame lady / queen |
T toren / kasteel tower / castle |
L loper / raadsheer runner / counsellor |
P paard horse |
(pi) pion |
Schaken | Schaak | Mat / Schaakmat |
English | K king |
Q queen |
R rook, castle |
B bishop |
N knight |
(P) pawn |
Chess | Check | Checkmate / Mate |
Esperanto | R reĝo king |
D damo lady |
T turo tower |
K kuriero courier |
Ĉ ĉevalo horse |
(P) peono |
Ŝako | Ŝak | Ŝakmato |
Estonian[12] | K kuningas king |
L lipp flag |
V vanker chariot / carriage |
O oda spear |
R ratsu riding horse |
(E) ettur forwarder |
Male after malev |
Tuli / Šahh fire |
Matt |
Finnish | K kuningas king |
D daami / kuningatar lady / queen |
T torni tower |
L lähetti messenger |
R ratsu horse |
(S) sotilas soldier |
Shakki | Shakki | Matti / Shakkimatti |
French | R roi king |
D dame lady |
T tour tower |
F fou jester |
C cavalier rider |
(P) pion |
Échecs | Échec | Échec et mat |
Georgian | მფ მეფე (mep'e) king |
ლ ლაზიერი (lazieri) queen |
ე ეტლი (etli) chariot |
კ კუ (ku) tortoise |
მ მხედარი (mkhedari) rider |
პ პაიკი (paiki) pawn |
ჭადრაკი (Čadraki) | ქიში (K'ishi) | შამათი (Shamat'i) |
German[13] | K König king |
D Dame lady / queen |
T Turm tower |
L Läufer runner |
S Springer jumper |
(B) Bauer peasant |
Schach | Schach | Matt / Schachmatt |
Greek | Ρ βασιλιάς (vasiliás) king |
Β βασίλισσα (vasílissa) queen |
Π πύργος (pýrgos) tower |
Α αξιωματικός (axiomatikós) officer |
Ι ίππος (íppos) horse |
(Σ) πιόνι (pióni) pawn |
Σκάκι (Skáki) | Σαχ (Sach) | Mατ (Mat) |
Hindi | R राजा (rājā) king |
V वज़ीर (vazīr) vizier |
H हाथी (hāthī) elephant |
O ऊँट (ūṁṭ) camel |
G घोड़ा (ghoṛā) horse |
(P) प्यादा (pyādā) infantryman |
शतरंज (Shatranj) | शाह (Shāh) | शाहमात (Shāhmāt) |
Hebrew | מ מלך (Melech) king |
מה מלכה (Malka) queen |
צ צריח (Tzariach) tower |
ר רץ (Ratz) runner |
פ פרש (Parash) rider |
רגלי (Regli) foot soldier |
שחמט (Shakhmat) | שח (Shakh) | מט (Mat) |
Hausa | S sarki king |
Q sarauniya queen |
R sansanin fortress |
G giwa elephant |
J jarumi mounted warrior |
(P) soja soldier |
ces | ceki | ceki mat |
Hungarian | K király king |
V vezér / királynő vizier / queen |
B bástya bastion |
F futó runner |
H huszár / ló hussar / horse |
(Gy) gyalog / paraszt footman / peasant |
Sakk | Sakk | Matt |
Icelandic | K kóngur king |
D drottning queen |
H hrókur rook |
B biskup bishop |
R riddari knight |
(P) peð pawn |
Skák | Skák | Skák og mát |
Ido | R rejo king |
D damo lady |
T turmo tower |
E episkopo bishop |
K kavalo horse |
(P) piono |
Shakoludo | Shako | Shakmato |
Indonesian | R raja king |
M menteri minister / vizier |
B benteng castle / fortress |
G gajah elephant |
K kuda horse |
(P) pion |
Catur | Sekak / Ster | Sekakmat |
Interslavic | K kralj king |
C carica / dama empress / lady |
Z zamok / věža castle / tower |
L lovec hunter |
J jezdec / konj rider / horse |
(P) pěšak infantryman |
Šahy | Šah | Mat |
Irish | R rí king |
B banríon queen |
C caiseal bulwark |
E easpag bishop |
D ridire knight |
(F) fichillín / ceithearnach little chess piece / kern |
Ficheall | Sáinn | Marbhsháinn |
Italian | R re king |
D donna / regina lady / queen |
T torre tower |
A alfiere standard-bearer |
C cavallo horse |
(P) pedone foot soldier |
Scacchi | Scacco | Scacco matto |
Japanese | K キング (kingu) |
Q クイーン (kuīn) |
R ルーク (rūku) |
B ビショップ (bishoppu) |
N ナイト (naito) |
(P) ポーン (pōn) |
チェス (chesu) | 王手 (ōte) / チェック (chekku) |
詰み (tsumi) / チェックメイト (chekkumeito) |
Javanese | R raja king |
Q ratu / perdhana mentri queen / prime minister |
B bèntèng fortress |
M mentri minister |
K jaran horse |
(P) pion |
sekak | ||
Kannada | ರಾ ರಾಜ (raaja) king |
ಮ ಮಂತ್ರಿ (mantri) minister |
ಆ ಆನೆ (aane) elephant |
ರ ರಥ (ratha) chariot |
ಕು ಕುದುರೆ (kudure) horse |
ಪಾ ಪಾದಾತಿ (paadaati) foot sodier |
|||
Kazakh | Кр патша (patsha) king |
У уәзір (wazir) vizier |
Т тура (tura) tower |
П піл (pil) elephant |
А ат (at) horse |
(П) пешка (peshka) / (С) сарбаз (sarbaz) foot soldier / warrior |
шахмат (shakhmat) | шах (shakh) | мат (mat) |
Korean | K 킹 (king) |
Q 퀸 (kwin) |
R 룩 (rug) |
B 비숍 (bi syob) |
N 나이트 (na i teu) |
(P) 폰 (pon) |
체스 (che seu) | 체크 (che keu) | 체크메이트 (che keu me i teu) |
Latin | R rex king |
M regina queen |
T turris / elephas tower / elephant[14] |
A signifer / cursor / stultus / alphinus standard-bearer / messenger / fool[14] |
E eques knight |
(P) pedes / pedo foot soldier |
Scacci | Scaccus | Mattus |
Latvian | K karalis king |
D dāma lady |
T tornis tower |
L laidnis |
Z zirgs horse |
(B) bandinieks peasant |
Šahs | Šahs | Šahs un mats |
Lithuanian | K karalius king |
V valdovė queen |
B bokštas tower |
R rikis Lithuanian military commander |
Ž žirgas horse |
(P) pėstininkas pawn |
Šachmatai | Šach | Matas |
Lojban | Na noltrunau king |
Ni noltruni'u queen |
S slanydi'u castle |
X xanto elephant |
Xi xirma horse |
(S) sonci soldier |
caxmati | gunta attack |
lo nolraitru cu morsi the king is dead |
Luxembourgish | K Kinnek king |
D Damm lady |
T Tuerm tower |
L Leefer runner |
P Päerd horse |
(B) Bauer farmer |
Schach | Schach | Schachmatt |
Macedonian | K крал king |
D кралица / дама queen / lady |
T топ cannon |
L ловец hunter |
S коњ / скокач horse / jumper |
P пешак / пион infantryman / pawn |
шах | шах | мат |
Malayalam | K രാജാവ് (rajavu) king |
Q മന്ത്രി (manthri) minister |
R തേര് (theru) chariot |
B ആന (anaa) elephant |
N/Kt കുതിര (kuthira) horse |
(P) കാലാള് / പടയാളി (kalal / padayali) foot soldier |
ചതുരംഗം (chathurangam) | ചെക്ക് |
ചെക്ക് മേറ്റ് |
Marathi | R राजा (rājā) king |
V वजीर (vajīr) vizier |
H हत्ती (hātti) elephant |
O उंट (Unṭ) camel |
G घोडा (ghoḍā) horse |
(P) प्यादे (pyāde) foot soldier |
बुद्धिबळ (buddhibal) | शह (shāh) | शहमात (shāhmāt) |
Mongolian | Н ноён noyan |
Б бэрс (fers) vizier |
т тэрэг (tereg) chariot |
Т тэмээ (temee) camel |
М морь (mor) rider |
(Х) хүү (hüü) infantryman |
Шатар | шаг / дуг / цод | мад |
Norwegian Bokmål | K konge king |
D dronning queen |
T tårn tower |
L løper runner |
S springer jumper |
(B) bonde peasant |
Sjakk | Sjakk | Sjakkmatt |
Norwegian Nynorsk | K konge king |
D dronning queen |
T tårn tower |
L løpar runner |
S springar jumper |
(B) bonde peasant |
Sjakk | Sjakk | Sjakkmatt |
Persian | ش شاه king |
و وزیر vizier / minister |
ق/ر قلعه/رخ castle |
ف فیل elephant |
ا اسب horse |
س سرباز soldier |
شطرنج | کیش (kish) | مات (mat) |
Polish | K król king |
H hetman |
W wieża tower |
G goniec courier |
S skoczek jumper |
(P) pion pawn |
szachy | szach | mat / szach-mat |
Portuguese | R rei king |
D dama / rainha lady / queen |
T torre tower |
B bispo bishop |
C cavalo horse |
(P) peão foot soldier |
Xadrez | Xeque | Xeque-mate |
Romanian | R rege king |
D damă / regină lady / queen |
T turn / tură tower |
N nebun fool |
C cal horse |
(P) pion |
Șah | Șah | Mat / Șah mat |
Russian | Кр король (korol') king |
Ф ферзь (ferz') vizier |
Л ладья (ladya) boat |
С слон (slon) elephant |
К конь (kon') horse |
(П) пешка (peshka) |
шахматы (shakhmaty) | шах (shakh) | мат (mat) |
Scottish Gaelic | R righ king |
B bànrigh queen |
T tùr tower |
E easbaig bishop |
D ridir knight |
(P) pàn pawn |
feòirne | casg | tul-chasg |
Serbo-Croatian | К краљ (kralj) king |
Д краљицa / дама (kraljica / dama) queen / lady |
Т топ (top) cannon |
Л ловац (lovac) hunter |
С скaкaч / коњ (skakač / konj) jumper / horse |
(П) пешак / пион (pešak / pion) pedestrian / pawn |
Шах (Šah) | Шах (Šah) | Мат (Mat) |
Northern Sotho | К Kgoši |
Kg Kgošigadi |
N Ntlosebô / Moshate |
Mp Mopišopo |
M Mogale |
S Seitšhireletšo |
Tšhêšê | Check | Checkmate |
Sicilian | R re king |
D riggina queen |
T turru tower |
A alferu |
S scecc[h]u donkey |
(P) pidinu foot soldier |
Scacchi | ||
Slovak | K kráľ king |
D dáma lady |
V veža tower |
S strelec shooter |
J jazdec horseman |
(P) pešiak infantryman / pawn |
Šach | Šach | Mat / Šachmat |
Slovene | K kralj king |
D dama lady |
T trdnjava castle |
L lovec hunter |
S skakač jumper |
(P) kmet farmer |
Šah | Šah | Mat / Šahmat |
Spanish | R rey king |
D dama / reina lady / queen |
T torre tower |
A alfil |
C caballo horse |
(P) peón foot soldier |
Ajedrez | Jaque | Jaque mate |
Swedish | K kung king |
D dam / drottning lady / queen |
T torn tower |
L löpare runner |
S springare / häst horse |
(B) bonde peasant |
Schack | Schack | Schack matt |
Tamil | K அரசன் (arasaṉ) king |
Q அரசி (araci) queen |
R கோட்டை (kōṭṭai) castle |
B அமைச்சர் / மந்திரி (amaicchar / manthiri) minister |
N/Kt குதிரை (kutirai) horse |
(P) காலாள் / சிப்பாய் (kālāḷ / cippāy) foot soldier / sepoy |
சதுரங்கம் (sathurankam) | முற்றுகை (muṟṟukai) | இறுதி முற்றுகை (iṟuti muṟṟukai) |
Telugu | రాజు (rāju) king |
మంత్రి (maṃtri) minister |
ఏనుగు (ēnugu) elephant |
శకటు (śakaţu) |
గుర్రం (gurraṃ) horse |
బంటు (baṃţu) soldier |
చదరంగం (cadaraṃgaṃ) | దాడి (dāḍi) | కట్టు (kaţţu) |
Thai | ข ขุน (khun) king |
ต เม็ด / ตรี / มนตรี (met / trī / montrī) counselor |
ร เรือ (reūa) ship |
ค โคน (khōn) |
ม ม้า (mā) horse |
(บ) เบี้ย (bīa) menial |
หมากรุก (mākruk) | รุก (ruk) | จน (jon) |
Turkish | Ş/K şah / kral shah / king |
V vezir vizier |
K kale castle |
F fil elephant |
A at horse |
(P) er / piyon soldier / pawn |
Satranç | Şah | Mat |
Ukrainian | Kр король (korol) king |
Ф ферзь (ferz) vizier |
T тура (tura) tower |
C слон (slon) elephant |
K кінь (kin) horse |
(П) пішак / пішка (pishak / pishka) foot soldier |
Шахи (shakhi) | Шах (shakh) | Мат (mat) |
Urdu | بادشاہ (bādshāh) |
وزیر (vazīr) |
رخ (rukh) |
فيلہ (fiyalah) |
گھوڑا (ghōṛā) |
پیادہ (pyādah) |
شطرنج (šaṭranj) | شہ (sheh) | شہمات (shehmāt) |
Vietnamese | V vua king |
H hậu queen |
X xe chariot |
T tượng statue |
M mã horse |
tốt soldier |
Cờ vua | Chiếu | Chiếu bí / Chiếu hết / Hết cờ |
Welsh | T teyrn / brenin lord / king |
B brenhines queen |
C castell castle |
E esgob bishop |
M marchog rider |
(G) gwerinwr peasant |
Gwyddbwyll | Siach | Siachmat |
Annotation symbols[]
Though not technically a part of algebraic notation, the following are some symbols commonly used by annotators, for example in publications Chess Informant and Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings, to give editorial comment on a move or position.
On moves: ! a very good move !! a brilliant—and usually surprising—move ? a bad move; a mistake ?? a blunder !? an interesting move that may, or may not, be good ?! a dubious move or move that is probably a mistake ⌓ a better move than the one played □ the only reasonable move, or the only move available TN
(or N)a theoretical novelty
On positions:= equal chances for both players +/=
(or ⩲)White has a slight plus =/+
(or ⩱)Black has a slight plus +/−
(or ±)White has a clear plus −/+
(or ∓)Black has a clear plus +− White has a winning advantage −+ Black has a winning advantage ∞ unclear whether either side has an advantage; “toss-up” =/∞ whoever is down in material has compensation for it
The symbol chosen is simply appended to the end of the move notation, for example, the “Soller gambit” is:
1. d4 e5 ?! 2. dxe5 f6 3. e4! Nc6 4. Bc4 +/−
See also[]
Footnotes[]
- ^ The main differences from standard Algebraic are that there is both a dot and a space after each move number, and an upper case "O" is used, instead of a zero, in the notation for castling. Presumably these were initially just one individual's personal foible (or error) in the early days of chess on the Internet, but the standard is now established. — Burgess (1997)[7]
References[]
- ^ Davidson, Henry (1981). A Short History of Chess. David McKay. pp. 152–153. ISBN 978-0679145509.
- ^ "Test for Unicode support in Web browsers".
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "FIDE Laws of Chess taking effect from 1 January 2018". FIDE. 2018-01-01. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
- ^ see FIDE Laws of Chess[3]: Apdx C.9.3 .
- ^ Article 9.1.2.2 in FIDE Laws of Chess[3]
- ^ Appendix C.13 in FIDE Laws of Chess[3]
- ^ Burgess, Graham (2000) [1997]. The Mammoth Book of Chess. Carroll & Graph. p. 517. ISBN 0-7867-0725-9.
- ^ Standard: Portable Game Notation Specification and Implementation Guide
- ^ Jump up to: a b Murray, Harold James Ruthven (1913). A History of Chess. Oxford, UK: Clarendon Press. pp. 469–470.
- ^ Staunton, Howard (1866). The Chess-Player's Handbook (Second, revised ed.). London, UK: Bell & Daldy. p. 501 – via Google Books.
A popular and scientific introduction to the game of chess, exemplified in games actually played by the greatest masters, and illustrated by numerous diagrams of original and remarkable positions.
- ^ Sources for this section include Wikipedia articles in various languages. Archived 2009-10-25.
- ^ The Estonian chess terms were coined by Ado Grenzstein.
- ^ "Handbook". www.fide.com. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
The pieces bear the names: Koenig, Dame, Turm, Laeufer, Springer, Bauer
- ^ Jump up to: a b H. J. R. Murray, A History of Chess, ch. 11
External links[]
The Wikibook Chess has a page on the topic of: Notating The Game |
Look up algebraic notation or Appendix:Algebraic notation in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
- FIDE Laws of Chess (see Appendix C. Algebraic notation)
- Chess notation