How to Read and Write Chess Notation: The Complete Guide (Algebraic, PGN, FEN)

Knowing how to read and write chess notation opens up a whole world that has remained inaccessible to many casual players: that of opening books, grandmaster game analyses, online databases, and tournament recaps. Contrary to what its abbreviated form might suggest, algebraic notation remains one of the simplest conventions in the entire game once its few basic rules are understood. This guide details how to read and write each type of move, the special symbols to know, and what a PGN file really is.

The Squares of the Chessboard: The Basis of All Notation

Each square on the chessboard has a unique coordinate, consisting of a letter (from "a" to "h", from left to right from White's perspective) and a number (from 1 to 8, from bottom to top from White's perspective). The square "e4", for example, always refers to the same specific square, regardless of which side is playing or observing the game. This convention, called algebraic notation, has gradually replaced all other historical notation methods, particularly Anglo-Saxon descriptive notation, which is now largely abandoned in favor of this more universal and compact system.

Remembering the position of a few key squares (the four central squares d4, d5, e4, and e5, as well as the corners a1 and h8) greatly facilitates quick reading of notation, especially when it comes to visually following the described moves without having a physical board in front of you.

Notating a Piece's Move: The General Rule

To denote the move of a piece other than a pawn, its initial is used followed by the destination square: "Nf3" means the knight moves to f3, "Bb5" indicates a bishop move to b5, and "Re1" a rook move to e1. The standard English initials are: K for King, Q for Queen, R for Rook, B for Bishop, N for Knight. The pawn, conversely, receives no initial: a move simply noted "e4" always denotes a pawn move to that square, never that of another piece.

When two identical pieces can reach the same square (for example, two knights that can both move to d2), the starting column or square is specified to avoid any ambiguity, for example "Nbd2" to indicate that it is the knight on the b-file that makes this specific move.

Captures, Checks, and Special Moves: Symbols to Know

A capture is indicated by an "x" placed between the piece (or absence of letter for a pawn) and the destination square: "Nxe5" means a knight captures a piece on e5, while "exd5" indicates that a pawn from the e-file captures a piece on d5. A check is noted by adding a "+" at the end of the move, and a checkmate is generally noted "#" or sometimes "++" depending on conventions. Castling kingside is noted "O-O" and castling queenside "O-O-O", regardless of the language of notation used, as these symbols are universal.

Pawn promotion is noted by adding the "=" symbol followed by the initial of the new piece after the destination square, for example "e8=Q" for a pawn promoting to a queen on e8. En passant capture is noted like a regular capture, without any additional distinctive symbol, which can occasionally confuse an unaware reader.

How to Read a Full Game in Algebraic Notation

A complete game is read move by move, usually numbered in pairs (one white move, one black move), for example "1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5", which corresponds to a well-known opening. Each number precedes White's move, immediately followed by Black's move on the same line or just after, without repeated numbering. This convention makes reading an entire game remarkably compact: a forty-move game can fit in just a few lines, whereas it would represent dozens of diagrams if illustrated visually move by move.

Practicing re-reading old famous games in notation remains one of the most effective exercises for rapid progress, especially for memorizing solid opening principles without having to remember precise sequences learned by heart.

The PGN Format: The Universal Standard for Digital Chess

PGN (Portable Game Notation) is a standardized text file format that records an entire game in algebraic notation, accompanied by contextual information such as player names, date, location, final result, and sometimes participants' Elo ratings. This is the format that almost all online platforms, analysis software, and professional databases use to store and exchange games, ensuring total compatibility between otherwise very different tools.

A PGN file remains human-readable, unlike more technical binary formats, which also makes it an excellent way to learn notation by directly observing real games exported from any chess website or software.

FEN: Notating a Position, Not a Game

In contrast to PGN, which describes a sequence of moves, FEN (Forsyth-Edwards Notation) allows a precise position at a given moment to be described, without the history of moves that led to it. It encodes in a single line of text the exact position of each piece, the side to move, castling rights still available, and the potential for en passant capture. This is the format used to quickly share an exercise or puzzle position, without having to replay an entire game to get there.

Why Learning Notation Fundamentally Changes Practice

A player who masters algebraic notation immediately gains access to much richer learning resources: theoretical opening books, annotated analyses of historical games, tactical exercises presented as sequences of moves. It is also an indispensable skill in sanctioned tournaments, where manual transcription of one's own game is often required, particularly in longer time controls where thinking time allows for note-taking in parallel with play.

What to Remember

Algebraic notation is based on a simple principle (one letter, one number per square) enriched with a few symbols for captures, checks, castling, and promotions. Once these basics are mastered, it opens access to all existing chess literature, as well as universal digital formats (PGN for games, FEN for positions) used by all modern tools.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the pawn not have an initial in notation?

By convention, the absence of a letter before the destination square always designates a pawn move, which avoids making the notation cumbersome, as the pawn is the most frequently moved piece.

How is a capture notated in algebraic notation?

With an "x" placed between the piece and the destination square, for example "Nxe5" for a knight capture, or "exd5" for a pawn capture from the e-file.

How is castling kingside and queenside notated?

Castling kingside is noted "O-O" and castling queenside "O-O-O", which are universal symbols used in all notation languages.

How is pawn promotion notated?

With the "=" symbol followed by the initial of the new piece after the destination square, for example "e8=Q" for a promotion to a queen on square e8.

What is a PGN file?

A standardized text format that records an entire game in algebraic notation, with contextual information (players, date, result), universally used by chess software and platforms.

What is the difference between PGN and FEN?

PGN describes an entire game, move by move. FEN describes a single precise position at a given moment, without the history of moves that led to it.

Is it necessary to know notation to participate in a sanctioned tournament?

In many tournaments, yes: manual transcription of one's own game is often required, especially in longer time controls that allow time to do so during the game.

Is algebraic notation universal across all languages?

The coordinates of the squares are universal, but the initials of the pieces vary by language (Q for Queen in English, D for Dame in French, for example), which requires a small adaptation depending on the source consulted.

How to resolve ambiguity when two identical pieces can make the same move?

By specifying the starting column, rank, or square of the piece concerned, for example "Nbd2" to indicate that it is the knight from the b-file that makes this move.

Are there other notation systems besides algebraic?

Yes, Anglo-Saxon descriptive notation coexisted with algebraic for a long time, but it is now almost entirely abandoned in favor of this more compact and universal system.