How to Write Chess Moves - A Simple Guide for Beginners - Chapter 1 - Learning Chess Notation

Oct 13, 2026

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A beginner-focused guide to reading and writing chess moves using algebraic chess notation, explaining how pieces and target squares are encoded and how special moves are represented. Covers why recording moves matters for studying, replaying, and learning from classic games, then teaches key notation like castling (O-O, O-O-O), captures (x), check (+), checkmate (++ or #), and en passant (e.p.). Concludes with chess annotation symbols, example notation, and interpreting a short real scoresheet including results and ECO opening codes.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time4 min

AccessFree to download

Learning Chess Language

Why write down chess moves?

Writing algebraic chess notation

Special moves and symbols

Chess annotation symbols

Reading a real scoresheet

Version 1.0 How to Write Chess Moves A Simple Guide for Beginners Written by Paul Macdonald 27 September 2012 Learning Chess Language You're going to quickly learn everything you need to know about reading and writing chess moves, called "chess notation" . Algebraic Chess Notation is the fancy name for today's accepted chess language . There are other styles but algebraic notation has been accepted asthe standard by the international chess organization called FIDE. FIDE governs all world-class chess competitions . Chess notation is easy to learn! You'll understand it like the experts if you read and understand everything that follows . If you don't understand something just ask an experienced adult to help you . Why should I write down my chess moves? Writing down your moves lets you record your games . Then you can study, replay, and show the game later to your friends! You can also read and play through games of great players to learn and improve your own chess game! Even games played hundreds of years ago! Learn Chess Notation To write chess notation you must indicate the piece you are moving and the square it's moving to. Notice how each piece is abbreviated with a single letter except the pawn! If no piece is named it's assumed that a pawn move is made . Notice also how the Knight is abbreviated with a "N" not "K" Copyright Chess Power Ltd 2012 Page 2 of 12 So the square three places in front of the White King is e4 . In the following diagram White made the first move pawn to e4 . The name of this move is simply "e4". (since the pawn's name is not written) Now black has made a pawn move ... this is written as e5 . Copyright Chess Power Ltd 2012 Page 3 of 12 Next, White has replied with Nf3 , knight to f3 . Notice how the letter of the piece is written as well as the name of the square . Now, we're going to fast forward to some special moves . See in the next diagram how white has made a special move called castling kingside . This move is written as 0-0. If the King castles on the queenside (to the left side of the chessboard) it would be written as 0-0-0. Copyright Chess Power Ltd 2012 Page 4 of 12 In the next diagram, White is going to capture Black's pawn on d5 . This move is called exd5 . When a "capture" is made this is indicated with an x . After a couple more moves White captures the Knight on c6 . This move is written as Bxc6+ . Notice the "+" sign. The “+” sign means "check" since Black's King is now in check and must get out of danger. White just moved d4 . Black's next move is exd3(e. p.) The e.p. stands for en passant – Black captures white's d4 pawn while moving his pawn to d3 . Copyright Chess Power Ltd 2012 Page 5 of 12 En Passant is a special move not many people know about! After several more moves, Black captures White's Bishop on c1 with dxc1Q. This means black pawn captures a piece on c1 and promotes it to a Queen. Black could promote it to any other piece he chooses, but Queen's are nearly always the best choice . Copyright Chess Power Ltd 2012 Page 6 of 12 The next move is Raxc1 . Note that either the rook on A1 or F1 can capture the new black queen. Raxc1 means that the rook on the “a” file is the rook that captures the black queen. If you captured with the other rook, you would write Rfxc1 . In this next position, white makes a winning move, d4++ , pawn to d4 CHECKMATE! Can you see how it is a checkmate? Take a look at the sneaky bishop on b7 . This is called a discovered check. Copyright Chess Power Ltd 2012 Page 7 of 12 You can also write d4\# instead of d4++ which also means checkmate . That's all there is to know about chess notation! You've learned the notation standards plus how to write the special moves ... + Check (e.p.) en passant O-O Castling Kingside O-O-O Castling Queenside ++ or \# Checkmate Now you can learn about special symbols which can be written at the end of a move to indicate whether that move wa

FAQs

What is algebraic chess notation and why is it used?

Algebraic chess notation is the accepted standard chess language used in world-class competitions governed by FIDE. It defines how moves are written so players can read and record games consistently.

How do you write piece moves, captures, and special results like check and checkmate?

You indicate the moving piece (using a single letter) and the destination square. Captures use an “x” (for example exd5). Check is marked with “+”, while checkmate can be written as “++” or “#”.

How is en passant written, and how does it work in notation?

En passant is written with “(e.p.)”. It means a pawn captures as if it moved one square forward, capturing the opposing pawn while moving to d3 in the example given.

How do you read game results and ECO codes on a scoresheet?

Results are shown as 1-0 (White wins), ½-½ (draw), or 0-1 (Black wins). ECO on the scoresheet stands for Encyclopedia of Chess Openings and identifies the opening type played early in the game.

Oct 13, 2026

Upload by Aurelia