Chessy
How Does Chess Notation Work?
Algebraic notation names each square by file (a-h) and rank (1-8), then records moves with a piece letter and the destination — e.g. Nf3 means a knight moves to f3, and exd5 means an e-pawn captures on d5.
Naming the squares
The chessboard is a grid of files (columns a through h, left to right from White's side) and ranks (rows 1 through 8, bottom to top from White's side). Every square gets a unique name from combining the two, like e4 or g7, which is the foundation the rest of notation builds on.
Recording piece moves
Each piece except the pawn gets a capital letter: King, Queen, Rook, Bishop, and Night (knight uses N to avoid confusion with the king). A move is written as the letter plus the destination square, so Bb5 means a bishop moves to b5. Pawn moves list only the destination square, like e4 or d5.
Captures, checks, and special moves
An x marks a capture, as in Nxe5. Pawn captures include the starting file, like exd5. A + marks check and # marks checkmate. Castling is written O-O for kingside and O-O-O for queenside. En passant captures are noted like a normal pawn capture, sometimes with 'e.p.' added for clarity.
Reading full games
A full game is written as a numbered list of move pairs, White's move then Black's, such as 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6. Learning to read this quickly lets you follow games from books, databases, and analysis tools, and it's essential for recording and reviewing your own games.
Frequently asked questions
What does Nf3 mean in chess notation?
It means a knight moves to the square f3. N stands for knight, since K is reserved for the king.
Why is exd5 written with a letter and not just d5?
Because it's a pawn capture — the starting file (e) is included before the x and destination to show which pawn made the capture.
How is castling written in notation?
Kingside castling is written O-O, and queenside castling is written O-O-O.
What do + and # mean after a move?
A plus sign (+) indicates the move gives check, and a hash symbol (#) indicates the move is checkmate.