Mastering Chess Notation: A Comprehensive Guide for Lichess Readers

1. Coordinates: Files, Ranks & Squares

• Files (a–h): Vertical columns, labeled from White’s left.
• Ranks (1–8): Horizontal rows, numbered from White’s side.
• Squares: Intersection of file and rank, e.g., e4, a1, h8.

Example: 1. e4 e5
White pawn moves to e4; Black pawn answers on e5.

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2. Piece Symbols & Pawn Moves

• Piece Letters:
  • K = King
  • Q = Queen
  • R = Rook
  • B = Bishop
  • N = Knight
• Pawn Moves: Written without a letter—just the destination square.

Example: 2. Nf3 Nc6
Knight to f3; Black responds with knight to c6.

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3. Captures, Checks & Checkmate

• x (Capture): Piece takes on target square.
  • Nxf6: Knight from e4 captures a piece on f6.
• + (Check): King is under attack.
  • Be7+: Bishop moves to e7 delivering check.
• # (Checkmate): Final blow—no escape.
  • Qh7#: Queen to h7 delivers mate.

Example: 3. Bxc6+ Kd8
Bishop captures on c6 with check; Black’s king retreats to d8.

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4. Castling: Kingside vs Queenside

• O-O (Kingside): King moves two squares toward the h‐rook; rook lands on f‐file.
• O-O-O (Queenside): King moves two squares toward the a‐rook; rook lands on d‐file.

Example: 4. O-O O-O-O
Both sides castle: White kingside, Black queenside.

Note: Castling is only legal if the king and rook haven’t moved, squares between are empty, and the king does not pass through or end in check.

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5. En Passant: The Special Pawn Capture

When a pawn advances two squares from its starting rank and lands beside an enemy pawn, that pawn may capture “en passant” as if the first pawn had moved only one square. This capture must occur immediately on the next move.

Example: 5. e4 d5 6. e5 c5 7. dxc6 e.p.
Black pawn from d5 advances; White pawn from e5 captures en passant on c6.

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6. Pawn Promotion

A pawn that reaches rank 8 (for White) or rank 1 (for Black) is promoted. Append = and the chosen piece letter.

Example: 8. e7 e8=Q+
Pawn advances to e8 and promotes to a queen, delivering check.

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7. Disambiguation: Avoiding Ambiguity

When two identical pieces can move to the same square, include the origin file or rank (or both) before the destination:

• Nbd2: Knight from the b‐file moves to d2.
• R1e3: Rook from rank 1 moves to e3.

Example: 9. Nbd2 Nf6 10. R1e1 Re8

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Ready to chart your own course through the 64 squares? Let me know if you still have any chess notation questions.
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