Chess Notation: How to Read and Write Algebraic Notation
Algebraic notation is how chess moves are recorded. Every square has a name, every piece has a letter, and every move is one short code. Once you learn it, 20 minutes, you can read any game in any chess book or database ever written.
Algebraic notation is the standard system for recording chess moves. Every square on the board has a unique name; every piece has a letter; every move is a short code like Nf3 or e4 or Bxc6+. Once you learn it, which takes about 20 minutes, you can read any chess game in any book, database, or website ever written.
This matters because chess is one of the best-documented games in history. Millions of games have been recorded and analyzed. Without notation, you can’t study any of them.
The board in algebraic notation
Files (columns): Labeled a through h, left to right from White’s perspective. The a-file is on White’s left; the h-file is on White’s right.
Ranks (rows): Numbered 1 through 8, starting from White’s side. Rank 1 is White’s back row; rank 8 is Black’s back row.
Every square has a unique name: file letter + rank number. The lower-right corner (from White’s perspective) is h1. The upper-left is a8. The center squares are e4, d4, e5, d5.
The piece letters
| Piece | Letter |
|---|---|
| King | K |
| Queen | Q |
| Rook | R |
| Bishop | B |
| Knight | N |
| Pawn | (none) |
Why N for knight? Because K is already taken by the king. The N comes from the German word Springer (jumper).
Pawns have no letter. If you see e4 with no piece letter in front, it’s a pawn move to e4.
How to read a move
Basic move: Piece letter + destination square.
- Nf3 = knight moves to f3
- e4 = pawn moves to e4
- Qd8 = queen moves to d8
- Bc4 = bishop moves to c4
Capture: Piece letter + x + destination square.
- Nxf6 = knight captures the piece on f6
- exd5 = pawn on the e-file captures on d5
- Bxc6 = bishop captures on c6
For pawn captures, the notation includes the file the pawn moved from: exd5 means a pawn on the e-file captures on d5.
Special symbols
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| + | Check |
| # | Checkmate |
| x | Capture |
| 0-0 | Kingside castling |
| 0-0-0 | Queenside castling |
| = | Promotion (followed by piece, e.g. =Q) |
| ! | Good move |
| !! | Brilliant move |
| ? | Mistake |
| ?? | Blunder |
| !? | Interesting/risky move |
| ?! | Dubious move |
Example: Nxf7+ means “knight captures on f7, giving check.”
Checkmate example: Qxh7# means “queen captures on h7, delivering checkmate.”
Promotion example: e8=Q means “pawn moves to e8 and promotes to a queen.” See our pawn promotion guide for when to promote to something other than a queen.
Disambiguation
When two pieces of the same type can move to the same square, you need to specify which one. You add the file letter (or rank number) of the moving piece.
- Nfd2 means the knight on the f-file moves to d2 (not the other knight)
- N1d2 means the knight on rank 1 moves to d2
- Rad1 means the rook on the a-file moves to d1
Reading a full game
Games in algebraic notation list moves in pairs: White’s move, then Black’s. Move numbers precede each pair.
Example opening: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5
This reads:
- Move 1: White plays pawn to e4; Black plays pawn to e5
- Move 2: White plays knight to f3; Black plays knight to c6
- Move 3: White plays bishop to c4; Black plays bishop to c5
This is the beginning of the Italian Game: covered in our Italian Game guide.
PGN (Portable Game Notation)
PGN is the standard file format for chess games: essentially algebraic notation with a header. If you download game files from databases like chess.com or lichess, they’ll be in PGN format. The moves are standard algebraic notation; the header adds metadata like player names, date, and result.
You can paste PGN into any chess analysis tool (Lichess’s board editor, Chess.com’s analysis, ChessBase) and replay the game move by move.
Practice
The fastest way to internalize notation is to replay games while reading them. Logical Chess: Move by Move (affiliate) is ideal for this. Every single move is annotated, which forces you to read the notation carefully rather than skimming.
Also see: chess for beginners and how to improve at chess.
Frequently asked questions
What is algebraic notation in chess? The standard system for recording chess moves. Every square has a unique name (file letter + rank number), every piece has a letter (K, Q, R, B, N. No letter for pawns), and every move is written as piece + destination square.
Why is the knight abbreviated N instead of K? K is already used for the king. N comes from the German word Springer (jumper), which is the word for knight in German chess terminology.
What does x mean in chess notation? A capture. Nxf6 means “knight captures the piece on f6.” For pawn captures, the file the pawn moved from is included: exd5 means “pawn from the e-file captures on d5.”
What is PGN in chess? Portable Game Notation: the standard file format for chess games. It uses algebraic notation for moves with a header adding player names, date, result, and other metadata. Universally supported by chess software.
Sources
- FIDE Laws of Chess, Appendix on notation
- Chernev, Irving. Logical Chess: Move by Move. Batsford. (affiliate)
Sources
- FIDE Laws of Chess — Appendix on notation
- Hooper, David, and Kenneth Whyld. The Oxford Companion to Chess. Oxford University Press, 1992.
Further reading
- Logical Chess: Move by Move — Irving Chernev — ASIN verified via Open Library 2026-05-02. The best way to practice reading notation, every move of 33 games is annotated, which forces you to read the notation to follow the game.