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Algebraic notation is the standard method of chess notation, used for recording and describing moves. It is based on a system of coordinates to uniquely identify each square on the board. It is now almost universally used by books, magazines, newspapers and software, and is the only form of notation recognized by FIDE, the international chess governing body.
An early form of algebraic notation was invented by the Syrian player Philipp Stamma in the 18th century. In the 19th century, it came into general use in German chess literature and was subsequently adopted in Russian chess literature. Descriptive notation, based on abbreviated natural language, was generally used in English language chess publications until the 1980s. Similar descriptive systems were in use in Spain and France. A few players still use descriptive notation, but it is no longer recognized by FIDE. Consequently, in FIDE sanctioned games, scoresheets recording the game in any system but algebraic may not be used as evidence in the event of a dispute.
The term "algebraic notation" may be considered a misnomer, as the system is unrelated to algebra.
Notation for moves
In standard (or short-form) algebraic notation, each move of a piece is indicated by the piece's uppercase letter, plus the coordinates 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 <span id="e.p."></span>
When a piece makes a , an "x" is inserted immediately before the destination square. For example, Bxe5 (bishop captures the piece on e5). When a pawn makes a capture, the from which the pawn departed is used to identify the pawn. For example, exd5 (pawn on the e-file captures the piece on d5).
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. For example, exd6 e.p.
Sometimes a multiplication sign (×) or a colon (:) is used instead of "x", either in the middle (B:e5) or at the end (Be5:). Some publications, such as the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO), 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 abbreviated algebraic notation or minimal algebraic notation.
Disambiguating moves
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);
- the rank of departure (if the files are the same but the ranks differ);
- both the file and rank of departure (if neither file nor rank alone is sufficient to identify the piece). This only occurs when three or more pieces of the same type can move to the same square (double disambiguation).
In the diagram, both white rooks could legally move to e8, so the move of the c8-rook to e8 is disambiguated as Rce8. For the black rooks on the a-file which could both move to a4, it is necessary to provide the of the moving piece, i.e., R2a4. In the case of the black bishops, which can both move to e5, only the file is specified, hence Bge5, despite both the file and rank differing, since stating only the file is sufficient to disambiguate.
In the case of the white queen on h3 moving to f1, neither the rank nor file alone are sufficient to disambiguate from the other white queens, since the others are respectively on the same file and rank as the h3-queen. As such, this move is written Qh3f1. Were one of the other queens to move to f1 instead, Qff1 for the f3-queen or Q1f1 for the h1-queen would be sufficient, as they respectively are the only white queens in file f or rank 1.
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 Qh3xf1.
Pawn promotion
When a pawn promotes, the piece promoted to is indicated at the end. For example, a pawn on e7 promoting to a queen on e8 may be variously rendered as e8Q, e8=Q, e8(Q), e8/Q etc.
Castling <span id="0-0"></span><span id="0-0-0"></span>
Castling is indicated by the special notations 0-0 (for castling) and 0-0-0 ( castling). O-O and O-O-O (letter O rather than digit 0) are also commonly used.
Check <span id="+"></span><span id="++"></span>
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. Some publications such as ECO omit any indication of check.
Checkmate <span id="Mate"></span><span id="mate"></span><span id="#"></span>
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 two enemy pieces simultaneously. 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" or "x".
Draw offer <span id="(=)"></span>
FIDE specifies draw offers to be recorded by an equals sign with parentheses "(=)" after the move on the .