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)

 

a8 QR1 QR8 b8 QN1 QN8 c8 QB1 QB8 d8 Q1 Q8 e8 K1 K8 f8 KB1 KB8 g8 KN1 KN8 h8 KR1 KR8 a7 QR2 QR7 b7 QN2 QN7 c7 QB2 QB7 d7 Q2 Q7 e7 K2 K7 f7 KB2 KB7 g7 KN2 KN7 h7 KR2 KR7 a6 QR3 QR6 b6 QN3 QN6 c6 QB3 QB6 d6 Q3 Q6 e6 K3 K6 f6 KB3 KB6 g6 KN3 KN6 h6 KR3 KR6 a5 QR4 QR5 b5 QN4 QN5 c5 QB4 QB5 d5 Q4 Q5 e5 K4 K5 f5 KB4 KB5 g5 KN4 KN5 h5 KR4 KR5 a4 QR5 QR4 b4 QN5 QN4 c4 QB5 QB4 d4 Q5 Q4 e4 K5 K4 f4 KB5 KB4 g4 KN5 KN4 h4 KR5 KR4 a3 QR6 QR3 b3 QN6 QN3 c3 QB6 QB3 d3 Q6 Q3 e3 K6 K3 f3 KB6 KB3 g3 KN6 KN3 h3 KR6 KR3 a2 QR7 QR2 b2 QN7 QN2 c2 QB7 QB2 d2 Q7 Q2 e2 K7 K2 f2 KB7 KB2 g2 KN7 KN2 h2 KR7 KR2 a1 QR8 QR1 b1 QN8 QN1 c1 QB8 QB1 d1 Q8 Q1 e1 K8 K1 f1 KB8 KB1 g1 KN8 KN1 h1 KR8 KR1

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

  [Further explanation of Symbols]