Chess Notation, Explained
How to read a game score, follow a broadcast, and stop being lost after move four.
Algebraic notation looks like code and takes about ten minutes to learn. After that, every game ever recorded becomes readable.
The board’s coordinates
Files are lettered a to h from White’s left; ranks are numbered 1 to 8 from White’s side. Every square has one name, used by both players.
Writing a move
A piece letter plus the destination square. Pawn moves are the destination square alone. Captures, checks and checkmate get their own symbols appended.
The ambiguous cases
When two identical pieces could reach the same square, the file or rank of origin is inserted to disambiguate. That’s the main source of confusion for beginners reading a game score.
Why it’s worth learning
Commentary, books and databases all assume it. Ten minutes of effort unlocks a century of recorded games.