Algebraic and descriptive notations
[There is a more detailed explanation of notation and more of the symbols available.]Here is the board, labelled using both systems of notation (text-only browsers: see below for pre-formatted version!)
Algebraic
Descriptive (from Black's side)
Descriptive (from White's side)
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Let's see that again in pre-formatted text:
8 a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 QR8 QN8 QB8 Q8 K8 KB8 KN8 KR8 QR1 QN1 QB1 Q1 K1 KB1 KN1 KR1 7 a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7 QR7 QN7 QB7 Q7 K7 KB7 KN7 KR7 QR2 QN2 QB2 Q2 K2 KB2 KN2 KR2 6 a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6 QR6 QN6 QB6 Q6 K6 KB6 KN6 KR6 QR3 QN3 QB3 Q3 K3 KB3 KN3 KR3 5 a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5 QR5 QN5 QB5 Q5 K5 KB5 KN5 KR5 QR4 QN4 QB4 Q4 K4 KB4 KN4 KR4 4 a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4 QR4 QN4 QB4 Q4 K4 KB4 KN4 KR4 QR5 QN5 QB5 Q5 K5 KB5 KN5 KR5 3 a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3 QR3 QN3 QB3 Q3 K3 KB3 KN3 KR3 QR6 QN6 QB6 Q6 K6 KB6 KN6 KR6 2 a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2 QR2 QN2 QB2 Q2 K2 KB2 KN2 KR2 QR7 QN7 QB7 Q7 K7 KB7 KN7 KR7 1 a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1 QR1 QN1 QB1 Q1 K1 KB1 KN1 KR1 QR8 QN8 QB8 Q8 K8 KB8 KN8 KR8
These should all represent the same short game:
- Short Algebraic
- 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nxe4 4. Qe2 Nf6?? 5. Nc6+! 1-0
- Long Algebraic
- 1. e2-e4 e7-e5 2. Ng1-f3 Ng8-f6 3. Nf3xe5 Nf6xe4 4. Qd1-e2 Ng8-f6?? 5. Ne5-c6+! 1-0
- Descriptive
- 1. P-K4 P-K4 2. N-KB3 N-KB3 3. NxP NxP 4. Q-K2 N-KB3?? 5. N-B6ch! 1-0
The +/ch means "check"; the 1-0 means "resigns".
You may find variations on these, for example, Kt for Knight, : for a capture, and so on. I use standard short algrabraic.
[Further explanation of Notation]
Symbols: evaluation and comment codes
Evaluations are used very often, the comments usually only in `languageless' publications. Here are the most common:Evaluations of moves:
Nf3!! Excellent move
Nf3! Good move
Nf3!? Interesting or tricky move
Nf3? Bad move
Nf3?! Dubious move but not losing
Nf3?? Terrible move
Evaluations of positions:
+- White has a winning advantage
+/- White has an advantage
+= White has a slight advantage
= Level position
=+ Black has a slight advantage
-/+ Black has an advantage
-+ Black has a winning advantage
& Unclear
&= With compensation for material