Algebraic notation is the standard way to record chess moves, and it takes about ten minutes to learn. Each square has a unique name from a letter and a number, and every move is written by combining the piece and the square it moves to.
How the board is labeled
The board is a grid. Files (columns) are letters a to h from White’s left to right. Ranks (rows) are numbers 1 to 8 from White’s side upward.
So the bottom-left square is a1 and the top-right is h8. Every square has one name, like coordinates on a map. White’s king starts on e1, Black’s king on e8.
Naming the pieces
Each piece has a capital letter, except the pawn, which has none.
| Piece | Letter |
|---|---|
| King | K |
| Queen | Q |
| Rook | R |
| Bishop | B |
| Knight | N |
| Pawn | (no letter) |
The knight uses N because K is already taken by the king.
Writing a move
A move is the piece letter plus the destination square. Pawn moves are just the square.
- e4 means a pawn moves to e4.
- Nf3 means a knight moves to f3.
- Bb5 means a bishop moves to b5.
If two identical pieces can reach the same square, add the starting file to clarify, like Nbd2 (the knight from the b-file).
Special symbols
A few symbols cover captures and other events:
- x = capture, as in Bxf7 (bishop takes on f7).
- + = check, as in Qh5+.
- # = checkmate.
- O-O = kingside castling, O-O-O = queenside.
- =Q = pawn promotion, as in e8=Q.
Tip: pawn captures include the starting file, like exd5. That tells you which pawn made the capture when two could.
Reading a full game
Moves are numbered in pairs — White then Black. So 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 means: White pawn to e4, Black pawn to e5, White knight to f3, Black knight to c6.
Once you can read those four moves, you can follow any chess book, annotate your own games, and study grandmaster play. Write down your next five games move by move — the notation will feel automatic by the end.