CHESS NOTATION

                   Noting down each moves in a game of chess is called notation. It can be done in descriptive  way and algebraic way. Descriptive notation is currently not accepted by FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs). So, now the modern players and all websites such as Chess.com etc use the Algebraic notation and this is what you are going to learn here.
                     

                         The algebraic notation is a pretty simple thing. It is very similar to the X axis & Y axis in a graph.

• The eight columns from the left to the right is called the FILES, which is identified by letters from a to h. The files go up and down.
• The eight rows from the top to bottom is called the RANKS, which is indicated using numbers from 1 to 8. They go sideways.
• The intersection of a file and rank is a square which is named by a letter and a number representing the file and rank. For example, a1,h6,d5 etc.

NAMING THE PIECES

All the major pieces(excluding pawns) are represented using the upper case letter in which their name starts. That is, K for king, Q for queen, B for bishop, N for knight and R for rook.

 NOTATION FOR MOVES

                   The moves of all pieces except the pawns are written in the following format - First letter of the piece as mentioned above and the name of the square to which it moved. (Nf3 when a knight is moved to the square f3 or Qd3  when a queen is moved to d3)

                    When two identical pieces are able to move to a same square, then the move is recorded by adding the square of departure in the notation. (Eg: Nbd7 - this tells that the knight which was on the b file was moved to the square d7)

NOTE -This can come only in the case of knights and rooks

                     The movement of pawns are simply recorded by writing the square name. (Eg: e4, h2 etc)

NOTATION FOR CAPTURE

Capture of a square is noted by using 'x' (multiplication symbol). This symbol is inserted in between the first letter of the piece and the destination square. (Eg: Qxd3, Bxh8)

             The capture made by pawns are noted as exf6 , dxf4 etc.

NOTATION FOR CASTLING

                      The king side castling is noted as 0-0 and the queen side castling is written as 0-0-0

NOTATION FOR PAWN PROMOTION

                       When a pawn is promoted to queen, it is noted as (e6=Q)

NOTATION OF CHECK AND CHECKMATE

                        A check is made, it is indicated using '+' sign (Eg: Rc6+ for noting a check using a rook). Double checking can also be represented just like a normal check or using ++ this.

                      A checkmate can be noted using '#' symbol. (Eg: Rb7#)

DRAW OFFER

                    A draw offer is represented like (=) this, an equal to sign inside parenthesis.

VICTORIES AND DRAW

                    When a game ends, (1,0) is noted if the white wins and (0,1) is used when the black wins. A draw is indicated using (½–½ )