Algebraic chess notation

Algebraic chess notation is the method used today by all competition chess organizations and most books, magazines, and newspapers to record and describe the play of chess games. It is also called abbreviated (or short) algebraic notation or SAN to distinguish it from the expanded (or long) algebraic notation variant now referred to as (LAN). Beginning in the 1970s, the abbreviated algebraic notation eventually came to replace descriptive chess notation, although this notation can still be found in older literature.

Example

Moves are generally written in one of two ways.

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(1) written in two columns, as a white/black pair, preceded by the move number and a period:

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1. e4 e5

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2. Nf3 Nc6

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3. Bb5 a6

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(2) in text: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6.

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Moves may be interspersed with text. When the score resumes with a black move, an ellipsis (...) takes the place of the white move, for example:

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1. e4 e5

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2. Nf3

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Black now defends his pawn

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2. ... Nc6

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3. Bb5 a6

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See Sample chess game.

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