Algebraic notation (chess)
[1] It is now almost universally used by books, magazines, newspapers and software, and is the only form of notation recognized by FIDE,[2] the international chess governing body.
An early form of algebraic notation was invented by the Syrian player Philip Stamma in the 18th century.
The vertical columns of squares, called files, are labeled a through h from White's left (the queenside) to right (the kingside).
The horizontal rows of squares, called ranks, are numbered 1 to 8 starting from White's side of the board.
In modern chess literature, especially that intended for an international audience, the language-specific letters are usually replaced by universally recognized piece symbols; for example, ♞c6 in place of Nc6.
Some publications, such as the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO), omit any indication that a capture has been made; for example, Be5 instead of Bxe5; ed6 instead of exd6 or exd6 e.p.
When it is unambiguous to do so, a pawn capture is sometimes described by specifying only the files involved (exd or even ed).
FIDE specifies draw offers to be recorded by an equals sign with parentheses "(=)" after the move on the score sheet.
Simply 1–0 or 0–1 is written whether a player resigned, lost due to time control or forfeited; in the case of a draw simply ½–½ is written whether the draw was decided by mutual agreement, repetition, stalemate, 50-move rule or dead position.
Long algebraic notation takes more space and is no longer commonly used in print; however, it has the advantage of clarity.
Both short and long algebraic notation are acceptable for keeping a record of the moves on a scoresheet, as is required in FIDE rated games.
[10] In international correspondence chess the use of algebraic notation may cause confusion, since different languages employ different names (and therefore different initial letters) for the pieces, and some players may be unfamiliar with the Latin alphabet.
In recent years, the majority of correspondence games have been played on on-line servers rather than by email or post, leading to a decline in the use of ICCF numeric notation.
The symbol chosen is simply appended to the end of the move notation, for example, in the Soller Gambit: 1.d4 e5?!
[12] Another system of notation using only letters appears in a book of Mediaeval chess, Rechenmeister Jacob Köbel's Schachzabel Spiel of 1520.
[12] Algebraic notation exists in various forms and languages and is based on a system developed by Philipp Stamma in the 1730s.
[13] Piece letters were introduced in the 1780s by Moses Hirschel, and Johann Allgaier with Aaron Alexandre developed the modern castling notation in the 1810s.
Staunton credits the idea to German authors, and in particular to "Alexandre, Jaenisch, and the Handbuch [des Schachspiels]".
[16] Several languages use the Arabic loanword alfil for the piece called bishop in English; in this context it is a chess-specific term which no longer has its original meaning of "elephant".
