How to Notate

Have you ever wanted to show off a past chess game but just could not remember the exact moves? Notation is here to save you as it is a method that chess players use to record their games. Notation allows you to relive your glorious victories (and heartbreaking blunders). Notation allows chess games to be written in the history books and replayed in the future. Notating a game allows you to analyze your game(s) to help you become better. Lastly, notation is important as it is the proof for a game that is being played if there is ever a dispute during a tournament. Notation IS important to chess players!

Ready to test your notation skills: Hendermonger Notated Games

Name/Move Letter Example #1 Example #2 Example #3 Notes
Pawn No Letter e4 a8=Q xf5
  • Pawn does not recieve a capital letter
  • Ex.1: Write the square the pawn moved to
  • EX.2: Pawn moves to a8 and promotes to Queen
  • Ex.3: The pawn captures a piece on f5
Rook R Rd8 Rxg3 0-0
  • Use the Capital R to represent a rook
  • Ex.1: Write R before the square moved to
  • EX.2: Rook captures a piece on g3
  • Ex.3: Castling ... see castling below
The Knight N Nf3 Nxe5 Nc6+
  • Use the Capital N to represent a knight (K is King)
  • Ex.1: Write N before the square moved to
  • EX.2: Knight captures a piece on e5
  • Ex.3: Knight moves to c6 square causing check
The Bishop B Bd7 Bxe3 Bc5#
  • Use the Capital B to represent a Bishop
  • Ex.1: Write B before the square moved to
  • EX.2: Bishop captures a piece on d7
  • Ex.3: Bishop moves to c5 square causing checkmate
The Queen Q Qe5 Qxc6 Qxf3+
  • Use the Capital Q to represent a Queen
  • Ex.1: Write Q before the square moved to
  • EX.2: Queen captures a piece on c6
  • Ex.3: Queen captures piece on f3 and checks king
The King K Kd7 0-0-0 Kxe6
  • Use the Capital K to represent a King
  • Ex.1: Write K before the square moved to
  • EX.2: Castling ... seeing castling below
  • Ex.3: King takes a piece on the e6 square
Check + Qd4+ Nxf7+ f7+
  • Use + after notated move to show it is check
  • Ex.1: Queen moved to d4 square and causes check
  • EX.2: Knight captures piece on f7 and causes check
  • Ex.3: Pawn moves to f7 and causes check
Checkmate # Re1# Qxg2# a8=Q#
  • Use # after notated move to show it is checkmate
  • Ex.1: Rook moved to e1 square causing checkmate
  • EX.2: Queen captured on g2 causing checkmate
  • Ex.3: Pawn promoted to a queen on e8 causing checkmate
Castle
Kingside		 0-0      
  • Only way to notate kingside-castle is: 0-0
  • Castling: King always moves 2 spaces
  • Castling: Rook jumps over King
  • Kingside Castle: Rook moves 2 spaces
Castle
Queenside		 0-0-0      
  • Only way to notate kingside-castle is: 0-0-0
  • Castling: King always moves 2 spaces
  • Castling: Rook jumps over King
  • Queenside Castle: Rook moves 3 spaces
Promotion = c1=N a8=R+ e1=Q#
  • Use = to show pawns promoting to other pieces
  • Ex.1: Pawn promotes to Knight on c1 square
  • Ex.2: Pawn promotes to Rook on a8 causing check
  • Ex.3: Pawn promotes to Queen on e1 causing checkmate
Multiple
Pieces		   Nbd7 Rae1 N3e4
  • Add a letter or number before the square, this is used if more than one knight/rook can move to the same square
  • Ex.1: Knight on the b-file moves to d7
  • Ex.2: Rook on the a-file moves to e1
  • Ex.3: Knight on the 3rd file moves to e4