Algebraic notation (chess)

Algebraic notation

Algebraic notation (or AN) is the standard method for recording and describing the moves in a game of chess. It is based on a system of coordinates to uniquely identify each square on the chessboard. It is used by most books, magazines, and newspapers. In English-speaking countries, the parallel method of descriptive notation was generally used in chess publications until about 1980. A few players still use descriptive notation, but it is no longer recognized by FIDE, the international chess governing body.

Algebraic notation exists in various forms and languages and is based on a system developed by Philipp Stamma. Stamma used the modern names of the squares, but he used p for pawn moves and the original file of a piece (a through h) instead of the initial letter of the piece name.

The term "algebraic notation" may be considered a misnomer, as the system is unrelated to algebra. Other terms such as "standard notation" and "coordinate notation" have been proposed, but the traditional term persists.

Naming the squares

Each square of the chessboard is identified by a unique coordinate pair—a letter and a number—from White's point of view. 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. Thus each square has a unique identification of file letter followed by rank number. For example, the initial square of White's king is designated as "e1".

Naming the pieces

Each piece type (other than pawns) is identified by an uppercase letter. English-speaking players use the letters K for king, Q for queen, R for rook, B for bishop, and N for knight (since K is already used). S (from the German Springer) was also used for the knight in the early days of algebraic notation and is still used in some chess problems (where N stands for nightrider, a popular fairy chess piece).

Different initial letters are used by other languages. In chess literature, especially that intended for an international audience, the language-specific letters are often replaced by universally recognized piece symbols; for example, ♞c6 in place of Nc6. This style is known as Figurine Algebraic Notation (FAN). The Unicode Miscellaneous Symbols set includes all the symbols necessary for FAN.

In both standard algebraic notation and FAN, pawns are not identified by an uppercase letter, but rather by the absence of one. Distinguishing between pawns is not done when recording moves (captures made by pawns are an exception and indicated differently as explained below), since only one pawn can move to a given square.

Notation for moves

Each move of a piece is indicated by the piece's uppercase letter, plus the coordinate of the destination square. For example, Be5 (bishop moves to e5), Nf3 (knight moves to f3). For pawn moves, a letter indicating pawn is not used, only the destination square is given. For example, c5 (pawn moves to c5).

Captures

When a piece makes a capture, an "x" (or the multiplication sign "×") is inserted immediately before the destination square. For example, Bxe5 (bishop captures the piece on e5). When a pawn makes a capture, the file from which the pawn departed is used to identify the pawn. For example, exd5 (pawn on the e-file captures the piece on d5). In older German, Russian or Italian publications a colon (:) is sometimes used instead of "x", either in the same place the "x" would go (B:e5) or at the end (Be5:).

En passant captures are indicated by specifying the capturing pawn's file of departure, the "x", the destination square (not the square of the captured pawn), and (optionally) the suffix "e.p." indicating the capture was en passant. For example, exd6 e.p.

Some texts, such as the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings, 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). These shortened forms are sometimes called minimal or abbreviated algebraic notation.

Disambiguating moves

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

1) ...Rdf8, 2) R1a3, 3) Qh4e1

When two (or more) identical pieces can move to the same square, the moving piece is uniquely identified by specifying the piece's letter, followed by (in descending order of preference):

1. the file of departure (if they differ); or
2. the rank of departure (if the files are the same but the ranks differ); or
3. both the file and rank of departure (if neither alone is sufficient to identify the piece – which occurs only in rare cases where a player has three or more identical pieces able to reach the same square, as a result of one or more pawns having promoted).

In the diagram, both black rooks could legally move to f8, so the move of the d8-rook to f8 is disambiguated as Rdf8. For the white rooks on the a-file which could both move to a3, it is necessary to provide the rank of the moving piece, i.e., R1a3.

In the case of the white queen on h4 moving to e1, neither the rank nor file alone are sufficient to disambiguate from the other white queens. As such, this move is written Qh4e1.

As above, an "x" can be inserted to indicate a capture; for example, if the final case were a capture, it would be written as Qh4xe1.

Pawn promotion

When a pawn promotes, the piece promoted to is indicated at the end of the move notation, for example: e8Q (promoting to queen). In standard FIDE notation, no punctuation is used; in Portable Game Notation (PGN) and many publications, pawn promotion is indicated by the equals sign (e8=Q). Other formulations used in chess literature include parentheses (e.g. e8(Q)) and a forward slash (e.g. e8/Q).

Draw offer

FIDE specifies draw offers to be recorded by an equals sign with parentheses "(=)" after the move on the score sheet. This is not usually included in published game scores.

Castling

Castling is indicated by the special notations 0-0 (for kingside castling) and 0-0-0 (queenside castling). While the FIDE standard is to use the digit zero (0-0 and 0-0-0), PGN uses the uppercase letter O (O-O and O-O-O).

Check

A move that places the opponent's king in check usually has the symbol "+" appended. Alternatively, sometimes a dagger (†) or the abbreviation "ch" is used. Some publications indicate a discovered check with an abbreviation such as "dis ch", or with a specific symbol. Double check is usually indicated the same as check, but is sometimes represented specifically as "dbl ch" or "++", particularly in older chess literature. The Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings omits any indication of check.

Checkmate

Checkmate at the completion of moves is represented by the symbol "#" in standard FIDE notation and PGN. The word mate is commonly used instead; occasionally a double dagger (‡) or a double plus sign (++) is used, although the double plus sign is also used to represent "double check" when a king is under attack by 2 enemy pieces simultaneously. A checkmate is represented by "≠" (the not equal sign) in the macOS chess application. In Russian and ex-USSR publications, where captures are indicated by ":", checkmate can also be represented by "X", "x", or "x".

End of game

The notation 1–0 at the completion of moves indicates that White won, 0–1 indicates that Black won, and ½–½ indicates a draw. In case of forfeit, scores 0–0, ½–0, and 0–½ are also possible. If player(s) lost by default, results are +/−, −/+, or −/−.

Often there is no indication regarding how a player won or lost (other than checkmate, see above), so simply 1–0 or 0–1 may be written to show that one player resigned or lost due to time control or forfeit. (Similarly, there is more than one way for a game to end in a draw.) Sometimes direct information is given by the words "White resigns" or "Black resigns", though this is not considered part of the notation but rather a return to the surrounding narrative text.

Similar notations

Besides the FIDE standard (or short) algebraic notation (SAN) already described, several similar systems have been used.

Long algebraic notation

In long algebraic notation, also known as fully exanded algebraic notation, both the starting and ending squares are specified, for example: e2e4. Sometimes these are separated by a hyphen, e.g. Nb1-c3, while captures are indicated by an "x", e.g. Rd3xd7. Long algebraic notation takes more space and is no longer commonly used in print, however it has the advantage of clarity. Some books using primarily short algebraic notation use the long notation instead of the disambiguation forms described earlier.

A form of long algebraic notation (without piece names) is also used by the Universal Chess Interface (UCI) standard, which is a common way for graphical chess programs to communicate with chess engines (e.g., for AI).

ICCF numeric notation

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. Hence, the standard for transmitting moves by post or email is ICCF numeric notation, which identifies squares using numerical co-ordinates, and identifies both the departure and destination squares. For example, the move 1.e4 is rendered as 1.5254. 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.

PGN

Portable Game Notation (PGN) is a text-based file format for storing chess games, which uses standard English algebraic notation and a small amount of markup. PGN can be processed by almost all chess software, as well as being easily readable by humans.

Formatting

A game or series of moves is generally written in one of two ways.

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

Position after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6

• In two columns, as White/Black pairs, preceded by the move number and a period:

  1. e4 e5

  2. Nf3 Nc6

  3. Bb5 a6

• Horizontally:

  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6

Moves may be interspersed with commentary (annotations). When the game score resumes with a Black move, an ellipsis (...) fills the position of the White move, for example:

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3

White attacks the black e-pawn.

2... Nc6

Black defends and develops simultaneously.

3. Bb5

White plays the Ruy Lopez.

3... a6

Black elects Morphy's Defence.

History

Descriptive notation was usual in the Middle Ages in Europe. A form of algebraic chess notation that seems to have been borrowed from Muslim chess, however, appeared in Europe in a 12th century manuscript referred to as “MS. Paris Fr. 1173 (PP.)”. The files run from a to h, just as they do in the current standard algebraic notation. The ranks, however, are also designated by letters, with the exception of the 8th rank which is distinct because it has no letter. The ranks are lettered in reverse – from the 7th to the 1st: k, l, m, n, o, p, q.

Another system of notation using only letters appears in a book of Mediaeval chess, Rechenmeister Jacob Köbel's Schachzabel Spiel of 1520.

Algebraic notation is described in 1847 by Howard Staunton in his book The Chess-Player's Handbook. Staunton credits the idea to German authors, and in particular to "Alexandre, Jaenisch, and the Handbuch [des Schachspiels]." While algebraic notation has been used in German and Russian chess literature since the 19th century, the Anglosphere was slow to adopt it, using descriptive notation for much of the 20th century. Beginning in the 1970s, algebraic notation gradually became more common in English language publications, and by 1980 it had become the prevalent notation. In 1981, FIDE stopped recognizing descriptive notation, and algebraic notation became the accepted international standard.

• Ms. Paris 1173.png

  Chess diagram found in a French manuscript (1173)

• Jacob Köbel 1520.png

  Chess diagram from Jacob Köbel's German book about Mediaeval chess, Schachzabel Spiel (1520)

• Chess diagram from Howard Staunton's "The Chess-Player's Handbook" (1947).png

  Chess diagram showing algebraic notation in Howard Staunton's The Chess-Player's Handbook (1866)

Piece names in various languages

The table contains names for all the pieces as well as the words for chess, check, and checkmate in several languages. 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".

Language	King	Queen	Rook	Bishop	Knight	Pawn	Chess	Check	Checkmate/Mate
figurine	♔ ♚	♕ ♛	♖ ♜	♗ ♝	♘ ♞	♙ ♟	...	+	#
Afrikaans	K Koning (king)	D Dame (lady)	T Toring (tower)	L Loper (runner)	R Ruiter (rider)	(P) Pion	Skaak	Skaak	Skaakmat
Albanian	M Mbreti (king)	Msh Mbretëresha (queen)	Ku Kulla (tower)	O Oficeri (officer)	Ka Kali (horse)	(U) Ushtari (soldier)	Shahu	Shah	Shah mat
Arabic	م مَلِك (malik, king)	و وزير (wazïr, vizier)	ر رخ/طابية (rukhkh, fortress) / (ṭābiya, castle)	ف فيل (fīl, elephant)	ح حصان (ħiṣān, horse)	ب بيدق/عسكري (baidaq, pawn) / (`askarī, soldier)	شطرنج (shaṭranj)	كِش مَلِك (kish malik)	كِش مات (kish māt)
Armenian	Ա Արքա (A Ark῾a, king)	Թ Թագուհի (T T῾agowhi, queen)	Ն Նավակ (N Navak, ship)	Փ Փիղ (P P῾ił, elephant)	Ձ Ձի (Dz Ji, horse)	Զ Զինվոր (Z Zinvor, soldier)	Շախմատ (Ճատրակ) Šaxmat (Čatrak)	Շախ (Šax)	Մատ (Mat)
Basque	E Erregea (king)	D Dama (lady)	G Gaztelua (castle)	A Alfila (bishop)	Z Zaldula	(P) Peoia (pawn)	Xake	Xake	Xake mate
Belarusian	К кароль (king)	Вз візыр (queen)	Лд ладзьдзя (rook)	А афіцэр (officer)	В вершнік (rider)	(Л) латнік (pawn)	Шахматы	Шах	Мат
Bengali	R রাজা (Raja)	M মন্ত্রী (Montri)	N নৌকা (Nouka)	H গজ/হাতি (Goj)/(Hati)	G ঘোড়া (Ghora)	B বোড়া/সৈন্য/পেয়াদা (Bora)/(Sainya)/(Peyada)	দাবা (daba)	কিস্তি (kisti)	কিস্তিমাৎ (kistimat)
Bulgarian	Ц цар (king)	Д дама (lady)	Т топ (cannon)	О офицер (officer)	К кон (horse)	(П) пешка	Шахмат/Шах	Шах	(Шах и) мат
Catalan	R rei	D dama/reina (lady)/(queen)	T torre (tower)	A alfil	C cavall (horse)	(P) peó	Escacs	Escac/Xec	Escac i mat
Chinese	K 王 (Wáng, king)	Q 后 (Hòu, queen)	R 車 (Jū, chariot)	B 象 (Xiàng, elephant)	N 馬 (Mǎ, horse)	(P) 兵 (Bīng, soldier)	國際象棋 (Guójì Xiàngqí)	將軍 (Jiāngjūn, general)	將死 (Jiāngsǐ, checkmate)
Czech	K král (king)	D dáma (lady)	V věž (tower)	S střelec (shooter)	J jezdec (rider)	(P) pěšec (foot soldier)	Šachy	Šach	Mat
Danish	K konge (king)	D dronning (queen)	T tårn (tower)	L løber (runner)	S springer (jumper)	(B) bonde (peasant)	Skak	Skak	Skakmat
Dutch	K koning (king)	D dame/koningin (lady)/(queen)	T toren/kasteel (tower)/(castle)	L loper/raadsheer (runner)/(counsellor)	P paard (horse)	(pi) pion	Schaken	Schaak	Mat/Schaakmat
English	K king	Q queen	R rook, castle	B bishop	N/Kt knight	(P) pawn	Chess	Check	Checkmate/Mate
Esperanto	R reĝo (king)	D damo (lady)	T turo (tower)	K kuriero (courier)	Ĉ ĉevalo (horse)	(P) peono	Ŝako	Ŝak	Ŝakmato
Estonian	K kuningas (king)	L lipp	V vanker	O oda	R ratsu	(E) ettur	Male	Tuli	Matt
Finnish	K kuningas (king)	D daami/kuningatar (lady)/(queen)	T torni (tower)	L lähetti (messenger)	R ratsu (horse)	(S) sotilas (soldier)	Shakki	Shakki	Matti/Shakkimatti
French	R roi (king)	D dame (lady)	T tour (tower)	F fou (jester)	C cavalier (rider)	(P) pion	Échecs	Échec	Échec et mat
Georgian	მ მეფე (Mep'e)	ლ ლაზიერი (Lazieri)	ე ეტლი (Etli)	კ კუ (Ku)	მ მხედარი (Mkhedari')	პ პაიკი (Paiki)	ჭადრაკი (Čadraki)	ქიში (K'ishi)	შამათი (Shamat'i)
German	K König (king)	D Dame, Königin (lady, queen)	T Turm (tower)	L Läufer (runner)	S Springer, Pferd, Rössel (jumper, horse)	(B) Bauer (peasant)	Schach	Schach	Matt/Schachmatt
Greek	Ρ βασιλιάς (vasiliás, king)	Β βασίλισσα (vasílissa, queen)	Π πύργος (pýrgos, tower)	Α αξιωματικός (axiomatikós, officer)	Ι ίππος (íppos, horse)	(Σ) πιόνι (pióni, pawn)	Σκάκι (Skáki)	Σαχ (Sach)	Mατ (Mat)
Hebrew	מ מלך (Melech, king)	מה מלכה (Malka, queen)	צ צריח (Tzariach, tower)	ר רץ (Ratz, runner)	פ פרש (Parash, rider)	רגלי (Regli, foot-soldier)	שחמט (Shakhmat)	שח (Shakh)	מט (Mat)
Hindi	R राजा (rājā, king)	V वज़ीर (vazīr, vizier)	H हाथी (hāthī, elephant)	O ऊँट (ūṁṭ, camel)	G घोड़ा (ghoṛā, horse)	(P) प्यादा (pyādā, infantryman)	शतरंज (Shatranj)	शाह (Shāh)	शाहमात (Shāhmāt)
Hungarian	K király (king)	V vezér/királynõ (commander)/(queen)	B bástya (bastion)	F futó (runner)	H huszár/ló (hussar)/(horse)	(Gy) gyalog/paraszt (footman)/(peasant)	Sakk	Sakk	Matt
Ido	R rejo (king)	D damo (lady)	T turmo (tower)	E episkopo (bishop)	K kavalo (horse)	(P) piono	Shakoludo	Shako	Shakmato
Icelandic	K kóngur (king)	D drottning (queen)	H hrókur	B biskup (bishop)	R riddari (knight)	(P) peð	Skák	Skák	Skák og mát
Indonesian	R raja (king)	M menteri (minister/vizier)	B benteng (castle/fortress)	G gajah (elephant)	K kuda (horse)	(P) pion	Catur	Skak	Skak mati
Irish	R rí (king)	B banríon (queen)	C caiseal (bulwark)	E easpag (bishop)	D ridire (knight)	(F) fichillín/ceithearnach	Ficheall	Sáinn	Marbhsháinn
Italian	R re (king)	D donna (lady)	T torre (tower)	A alfiere (standard-bearer)	C cavallo (horse)	(P) pedone	Scacchi	Scacco	Scacco matto
Japanese	K キング (kingu)	Q クイーン (kuīn)	R ルーク (rūku)	B ビショップ (bishoppu)	N ナイト (naito)	(P) ポーン (pōn)	チェス (chesu)	王手/ チェック (chekku)	詰み/ チェックメイト (chekkumeito)
Kannada	R ರಾಜ (rājā, king)	M ಮಂತ್ರಿ (manthri, queen)	A ಆನೆ (āāne, elephant)	O ಒಂಟೆ (ōnté, camel)	K ಕುದುರೆ (kūďré, horse)	(P) ಸೈನಿಕ (śāìnìka, infantryman)	ಚದುರಂಗ (chaduranga)	(pending update)	(pending update)
Korean	K 킹 (king)	Q 퀸 (kwin)	R 룩 (rug)	B 비숍 (bi syob)	N 나이트 (na i teu)	(P) 폰 (pon)	체스 (ce seu)	체크 (ce keu)	체크메이트 (ce keu me i teu)
Latin	rex	regina	turris	signifer, cursor	eques	pedes	Scacci	Scaccus	Mattus
Latvian	K karalis (king)	D dāma (lady)	T tornis (tower)	L laidnis (bishop)	Z zirgs (cavallo)	(B) bandinieks	Šahs	Šahs	Šahs un mats
Lithuanian	K karalius	V valdovė	B bokštas	R rikis	Ž žirgas	(P) pėstininkas	Šachmatai	Šach	Matas
Luxembourgish	K kinnek	D damm	T tuerm (tower)	L leefer (runner)	P päerd (horse)	(B) bauer (farmer)	Schach	Schach	Schachmatt
Malayalam	K രാജാവ് (rajavu)	Q മന്ത്രി (manthri)	R തേര് (theru)	B ആന (anaa)	N/Kt കുതിര (kuthira)	(P) കാലാള്‍ / പടയാളി (kalal)/(padayali)	ചതുരംഗം (chathurangam)	ചെക്ക് check	ചെക്ക് മേറ്റ് check mate
Marathi	R राजा (rājā)	V वज़ीर (vajīr)	H हत्ती (hātti)	O उंट (Uant)	G घोड़ा (ghoda)	(P) प्यादे (pyāde)	बुद्धिबळ (buddhibal)	शह (shāh)	शहमात (shāhmāt)
Mongolian	Н ноён (lord)	Б бэрс (ferz)	т тэрэг (chariot)	Т тэмээ (camel)	М морь (rider)	(Х) хүү (paige)	Шатар	шаг, дуг, цод	мад
Norwegian Bokmål	K konge (king)	D dronning (queen)	T tårn (tower)	L løper (runner)	S springer (jumper)	(B) bonde (peasant)	Sjakk	Sjakk	Sjakkmatt
Norwegian Nynorsk	K konge (king)	D dronning (queen)	T tårn (tower)	L løpar (runner)	S springar (jumper)	(B) bonde (peasant)	Sjakk	Sjakk	Sjakkmatt
Persian	ش شاه	و وزیر	ق/ر قلعه/رخ	ف فیل	ا اسب	س سرباز	شطرنج	کیش	مات
Polish	K król (king)	H hetman	W wieża (tower)	G goniec (courier)	S skoczek (jumper)	(P) pion (pawn)	szachy	szach	mat (szach-mat / szach i mat)
Portuguese	R rei (king)	D dama/rainha (lady)/(queen)	T torre (tower)	B bispo (bishop)	C cavalo (horse)	(P) peão	Xadrez	Xeque	Xeque-mate
Romanian	R rege (king)	D damă/regină (lady)/(queen)	T turn (tower)	N nebun (fool, jester)	C cal (horse)	(P) pion	Şah	Şah	Mat
Russian	Кр король (king) Kr korol'	Ф ферзь (from Persian vizier) F ferz'	Л ладья (boat) L ladʹjá	С слон (elephant) S slon	К конь (horse) K kon'	(П) пешка P péška	шахматы šáxmaty	шах šax	мат mat
Serbo-Croatian	К/K краљ / kralj	Д/D краљицa / kraljica	Т/T топ / top	Л/L ловац / lovac	С/S скaкaч / skakač	(П) пjешак / pješak	Шах / Šah	Шах / Šah	Мат / Mat
Northern Sotho	К Kgoši	Kg Kgošigadi	N Ntlosebô/Moshate	Mp Mopišopo	M Mogale	S Seitšhireletšo	Chess	Check	Checkmate
Sicilian	R re	D riggina	T turru	A alferu	S scecchu	(P) pidinu	Scacchi
Slovak	K kráľ (king)	D dáma (lady)	V veža (tower)	S strelec (shooter)	J jazdec (horseman)	(P) pešiak (infantryman, pawn)	Šach	Šach	Mat/Šachmat
Slovene	K kralj	D dama	T trdnjava	L lovec	S skakač	(P) kmet	Šah	Šah	Mat/Šahmat
Spanish	R rey (king)	D dama/reina (lady/queen)	T torre (tower)	A alfil	C caballo (horse)	(P) peón (foot-soldier)	Ajedrez	Jaque	Jaque mate
Swedish	K kung	D dam/drottning (lady)/(queen)	T torn (tower)	L löpare (runner)	S springare/häst (horse)	(B) bonde (peasant)	Schack	Schack	Schack matt
Tamil	K அரசன் (arasaṉ)	Q அரசி (arasi)	R கோட்டை (kōṭṭai)	B அமைச்சர் / மந்திரி (amaicchar) / (manthiri)	N/Kt குதிரை (kuthirai)	(P) காலாள் / சிப்பாய் (kālāḷ) / (cippāy)	சதுரங்கம் (sathurankam)	முற்றுகை (muṟṟukai)	இறுதி முற்றுகை (iṟuti muṟṟukai)
Telugu	రాజు (rāju)	మంత్రి (maṃtri)	ఏనుగు (ēnugu)	శకటు (śakaţu)	గుర్రం (gurraṃ)	బంటు (baṃţu)	చదరంగం (cadaraṃgaṃ)	దాడి (dāḍi)	కట్టు (kaţţu)
Thai	ข ขุน (khun, king)	ต เม็ด (ตรี/มนตรี) (met (trī/montrī), counselor)	ร เรือ (reūa, ship)	ค โคน (khōn, elephant)	ม ม้า (mā, horse)	(บ) เบี้ย (bīa, menial)	หมากรุก (mākruk)	รุก (ruk, invade)	จน (jon, checkmate)
Turkish	Ş/K şah/kral	V vezir	K kale	F fil	A at	(P) er/piyon	Satranç	Şah	Mat
Ukrainian	Kр король	Ф ферзь	T тура	C слон	K кінь	(П) пішак	Шахи	Шах	Мат
Urdu	بادشاہ (bādshāh)	وزیر (vazīr)	رخ (rukh)	فيلہ (fiyalah)	گھوڑا (ghōṛā)	پیادہ (pyādah)	شطرنج (šaṭranj)	شہ (sheh)	شہمات (shehmāt)
Vietnamese	V Vua	H Hậu	X Xe	T Tượng	M Mã	_ Tốt	Cờ vua	Chiếu	Chiếu bí/Chiếu hết
Welsh	T teyrn/brenin	B brenhines	C castell	E esgob	M marchog	(G) gwerinwr	Gwyddbwyll	Siach	Siachmat

Annotation symbols

Main article: Chess annotation symbols

Though not technically a part of algebraic notation, the following are some symbols commonly used by annotators, for example in publications Chess Informant and Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings, to give editorial comment on a move or position.

On moves:
!	a very good move
!!	a brilliant—and usually surprising—move
?	a bad move; a mistake
??	a blunder
!?	an interesting move that may not be the best
?!	a dubious move that is not easily refutable
⌓	a better move than the one played
□	the only reasonable move, or the only move available
TN (or N)	a theoretical novelty
On positions:
=	equal chances for both players
+/= (or ⩲)	White has a slight plus
=/+ (or ⩱)	Black has a slight plus
+/− (or ±)	White has a clear plus
−/+ (or ∓)	Black has a clear plus
+−	White has a winning advantage
−+	Black has a winning advantage
∞	unclear whether either side has an advantage; “toss-up”
=/∞	whoever is down in material has compensation for it

The symbol chosen is simply appended to the end of the move notation, for example, the “Soller gambit” is:

1.	d4	e5	?!
2.	dxe5	f6
3.	e4!	Nc6
4.	Bc4		+/−

See also

• Chess notation
• Chess annotation symbols

External links

• FIDE Laws of Chess (see Appendix C. Algebraic notation)