For the purpose of explaining the board I will teach you chess notations also known as “algebraic” notations, if you have a board it might be a good idea to use it while you learn this material. If you have a board in front of you turn it until the bottom right hand square is a light color. First I will explain files and ranks on the board. The files go across the board from the queen side rook to the king side rook or the dark square on the bottom left hand of the board to the last light square at bottom right hand of the board, the squares are labeled a, b, c, d, e, f, g, and h from left to right on white’s side of the board. The ranks are vertically aligned on the board, they start at the first square for white, and they are numbered 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and 8 as you go up the board. So starting with the queen side rook or the white rook on the bottom left hand corner of the board its starting position is (a1), the square immediately above it is (a2), the square immediately to the right is (b2) and so on and so on. Now a reference to the abbreviations used to represent the pieces.
* Pawn – Has no abbreviation, and is described by the square it is currently on. So if your opening move were your king’s pawn to the square directly above it, it would be referenced as (e3) in chess notations. When a piece captures another piece in chess it is represented by an x in chess notations. If a pawn captures a piece the notation is represented by the original file a, b, c, d, e, f, g, or h the pawn was on and the square it captures the piece on, for example (exd4), (e) represents the original file the pawn was on and (xd4) represents the square that the pawn captured on.
* Knight – The knight is given the symbol (N) in chess notations. So if you read a notation saying (Nf3) that represents the knight taking on that square of f3. If the knight captures another piece the notation would resemble (Nxe5). Please note the file (a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h) of the knight if another knight on the board can achieve the same position or make the same capture, example (Nfxe5) (Nf represents the file the knight originated on and (xe5) represents the square the knight captured on. If two knights are on the same row and can capture or move to the same square then you would list the rank of the knight that moved on that turn. (Example: N3xe5) (N3 represents the original position of the knight and (xe5) representing the square the knight captured on.
* Bishop – The bishop is given the symbol (B) in chess notations. So if you read a notation saying (B3) it represents the position the bishop has taken on the board. The bishops on each side can only move on either light squares or dark squares so a capture would simply be represented by (Bx followed by capturing square). So if the bishop captured on (c6) the notation would read (Bxc6).
* Rook- The rook is given the symbol (R) in chess notations. So if you read a notation (Re1) then R equals rook and e1 is the square the rook has taken on. If the rook captures another piece the notation would resemble (Rxe7) depending on the square the rook captured on. Please note the file of the rook if another rook is able to achieve the same position or make the same capture on the board, for example (Rexe7) (Re) describes the original file of the rook and (xe7) represents the capture on (e7). If both rooks are on the same file please use the rank of the rook that moved or captured on that turn (example R4f6 same as the example shown for knights).
* Queen – The queen is given the symbol (Q) in chess notations. So if you read a notation (Qh5) that represents the square the queen has taken on. If the queen captures another piece the notation would resemble (Qxe5) the end depending on the square the queen has captured on.
* King – The king is given the symbol (K) in chess notations. So if you read a notation (Kf1) that would represent the square the king has taken on. If the king captures another piece the notation would resemble (Kxf2) the end once again depending on the square the king has captured on. .
Other notation you might see is as follows (%2B) which means a king was put in to check on that move. (!) Represents a good move that either tremendously helped the position or won material. (?) Is a questionable move that is possibly a blunder. (!?) Is an interesting move that is not clear to whether or not it is a solid move. (#) Or (%2B%2B) Represents the move that checkmate was recorded so (Qf2#) would be the final move of the game.
Chess notations are extremely useful for reading materials and online databases that do not have visual images of the games. You will be able to play out and record your games as well as other games to reference and learn positions. You can use this in several ways like recreating games on your own board, online or even with chess software where you can examine and learn from your games or others.
Quick Reference!
PAWN = (Whatever file it is on a, b, c, d, e, f, g or h always in lower case.)
KNIGHT = N
BISHOP = B
ROOK = R
QUEEN = Q
KING = K
Article written by Richard L McCaffery,
Brought to you by www.playchessgame.com [http://www.playchessgame.com], dedicated to teaching players how to play chess [http://www.playchessgame.com].
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