Your Complete Concise Algebraic Chess Move Notation Guide
All of the articles explaining the notation that I was able to find are laughably incomplete or verbose, so I decided to make my own.
I present to you the first ever (that I’m aware of) comprehensive flow chart explaining chess move notation:
If you do not fully understand the rules of chess, check out explanation of files and ranks on a chess board, or an explanation of the rules of chess.
A short example
Let’s explore the infamous Scholar’s Mate with this notation:
1. e4 e5
2. Qh5 Nc6
3. Bc4 Nf6??
4. Qxf7#
Black had some major troubles in this game. As you can see, 3. … Nf6?? Is a massive blunder, allowing white to checkmate in one move with 4. Qxf7#.
Why so complicated?
Chess algebraic notation is optimized for handwriting, since tournament players often record moves as they play. Other notation systems are much easier to understand initially, such as the coordinate system. (eg: E2-E4 E7-E5) The coordinate system doesn’t tell the whole story though. (Which piece moved? Is the opponent in check?)
Here’s the same game using the coordinate system:
1. e2-e4 e7-e5
2. d1-h5 b8-c6
3. f1-f4 g8-f6
4. h5-f7
While it’s much easier to learn this notation, it doesn’t paint the same picture that the algebraic notation does.
Actually, it’s not so bad.
When you completely understand algebraic notation, it will feel very natural. Most redundant text is omitted, and decorators such as king threats (# for checkmate, + for check) and move strength (??, go home, you’re drunk) help explain what’s happening on the board. Because of the descriptive and concise nature, you will find algebraic notation in nearly every chess book.
I hope this flowchart has been helpful in demystifying the surprisingly elegant chess move notation.
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