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.

Naming the pieces

Each type of piece (other than pawns) is identified by an uppercase

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letter, usually the first letter in the name of that piece in whatever

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language is spoken by the player recording.

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English-speaking players use K for king,

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Q for queen, R for rook,

Related Topics:
Queen - Rook

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B for bishop, and N for knight

Related Topics:
Bishop - Knight

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(since K is already used). S was also used for the knight in the early days of algebraic notation, from the German Springer (this is still used in chess problems, where N stands for the popular fairy chess piece, the nightrider).

Related Topics:
Chess problem - Fairy chess piece - Nightrider

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Players may use different letters in other languages.

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For example, French players use F for bishop (from fou).

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In chess literature written for an international audience, the language-specific letters are replaced by universal icons for the pieces, producing Figurine notation.

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Here are the piece abbreviations used in various languages:

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Pawns are not indicated by a letter, but by the absence of such a letter - it is not necessary to distinguish between pawns for normal moves, as only one pawn can move to any one square (captures are indicated differently; see below).

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