Editing Chess notation (section)

==Notation systems==
[[Image:Postcard-for-correspondence-chess.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Correspondence chess card showing algebraic notation and ICCF notation]]
In organized competition, both players are required to keep a record of the moves played on a {{chessgloss|score sheet}}. If required, score sheets may be used to resolve disputes, for example about whether an illegal move has been made or whether a [[threefold repetition]] has occurred. In addition, if the [[time control]] requires the players to complete a specified number of moves in a specified time, an accurate count of the moves must be kept.<ref name="GijssenArbitersNotebook">{{cite web
 |title       = An Arbiter's Notebook
 |url         = http://www.chesscafe.com/text/geurt05.txt
 |author      = Gijssen, G.
 |publisher   = ChessCafé.com
 |url-status     = live
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20071105235338/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/geurt05.txt
 |archive-date = 2007-11-05
}}</ref> All chess coaches strongly recommend the recording of one's games so that one can look for improvements in one's play.<ref>{{cite web
 | title=How to Read and Write Algebraic Chess Notation
 | url=http://www.chesshouse.com/howto/How-to-Read-and-Write-Chess-Notation.asp
 | publisher=The Chess House
 | url-status=dead
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024135030/http://www.chesshouse.com/howto/How-to-Read-and-Write-Chess-Notation.asp
 | archive-date=2007-10-24
 }}  Includes sample hand-written score sheet.</ref>

* '''[[Algebraic notation (chess)|Algebraic notation]]''' is the most widely used method for recording moves. It is based on a system of coordinates (a–h for files, 1–8 for ranks) to uniquely identify each square. In embryonic form it was used by [[Philip Stamma]] in the 1737 book ''Essai sur le jeu des echecs''. It was later adopted (in long form) by the influential ''[[Handbuch des Schachspiels]]'' and became standard in German publications. It is more compact and less prone to error than the English descriptive system. Algebraic notation is the official notation of [[FIDE]]; if a player records the game in a different notation system, their scoresheet may not be used as evidence in the event of a dispute.<ref name="FIDERulesAppendices">{{cite web | url=http://www.fide.com/component/handbook/?view=article&id=125 | title=FIDE Handbook: Rules – Appendices | publisher=[[Fédération Internationale des Échecs]] | access-date=September 29, 2013 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003050537/http://www.fide.com/component/handbook/?id=125&view=article | archive-date=October 3, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/E012018 | title=FIDE Handbook E. Miscellaneous / 01. Laws of Chess / FIDE Laws of Chess taking effect from 1 January 2018 / | publisher=[[Fédération Internationale des Échecs]] }}</ref><ref>[[Eric Schiller|Schiller, Eric]], ''The Official Rules of Chess'', 2003, {{ISBN|978-1-58042-092-1}}, p. 25</ref> The [[U.S. Chess Federation]] prefers the use of algebraic notation but still permits descriptive notation.<ref name="USCF Rulebook ChangesAug2007">{{cite web |title=Rulebook Changes (as of August 2007) |url=http://main.uschess.org/content/view/7594/28/ |publisher=The United States Chess Federation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610222821/http://main.uschess.org/content/view/7594/28/ |archive-date=2015-06-10 }}</ref>

:* ''Long algebraic notation'' includes the starting {{chessgloss|file}} and {{chessgloss|rank}} of the [[chess piece|piece]].
:* ''Short algebraic notation'' omits the starting {{chessgloss|file}} and {{chessgloss|rank}} of the [[chess piece|piece]], unless it is necessary to disambiguate the move.
:* ''Minimal algebraic notation'' is similar to short algebraic notation but omits the indicators for capture ("x"), en passant capture ("e.p."), check ("+") and checkmate ("#"). It was used by ''[[Chess Informant]]''.<ref name="Chess960">{{cite web | url=http://www.chessville.com/reviews/PlayStrongerChessExaminingChess960.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060622105629/http://chessville.com/reviews/PlayStrongerChessExaminingChess960.htm | url-status=usurped | archive-date=22 June 2006 | title=Not Your Father's Chess | access-date=29 September 2013 | author=Jeffreys, Michael }}</ref>
:* ''Figurine algebraic notation'' replaces the letter that stands for a piece by its [[Chess symbols in Unicode|symbol]], e.g., '''♞c6'''  instead of '''Nc6''' or '''♖xg4''' instead of '''Rxg4'''. Pawns are omitted as in standard algebraic notation. This style is widely used in chess literature to allow the moves to be read independent of language. To display or print these symbols on a computer, one or more [[font]]s with good [[Unicode]] support must be installed, and the document (web page, word processor document, etc.) must use one of these fonts.<ref name="alanwoodTestForUnicodeSuportInBrowser">{{cite web |url=http://www.alanwood.net/unicode/miscellaneous_symbols.html |title=Test for Unicode support in Web browsers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080103134038/http://www.alanwood.net/unicode/miscellaneous_symbols.html |archive-date=2008-01-03 }}</ref> For more information see [[Chess symbols in Unicode]].
:* ''Reversible algebraic notation'' is based on long algebraic notation, but adds an additional letter for the piece that was captured, if any. The move can be reversed by moving the piece to its original square, and restoring the captured piece. For example, Rd2xBd6.<ref name="Chess960" />
:* ''Concise reversible algebraic notation'' is similar to reversible algebraic notation, but omits the file or rank if it is not needed to disambiguate the move. For example, Rd2xB6. This notation is recommended by Gene Milener in ''Play Stronger Chess by Examining Chess 960: Usable Strategies for Fischer Random Chess Discovered''.<ref name="Chess960" />
:* ''Figurine concise reversible algebraic notation'' is a form of concise reversible algebraic notation with non-Staunton figurines, used by Gene Milener during [[Chess960]] tournaments.<ref>{{cite web |title= Rotatable Icons, and Chess Diagrams for the Blind |first=Gene |last=Milener |url=
http://www.castlelong.com/essay/Essay_HSym_fd47b_Doc_Prn.PDF |date=2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001134936/http://www.castlelong.com/essay/Essay_HSym_fd47b_Doc_Prn.PDF |archive-date=1 October 2018}}</ref>
*'''[[Descriptive notation]]''' was the prevalent notation in English-speaking countries until the late 1970s. In this system, files are named after the piece that is initially on the back rank, and each square has two names depending on whether it is from White's or Black's point of view. This is still used by a dwindling number of mainly older players, and knowledge of descriptive notation is necessary to study older chess books. Similar systems were used in other languages, including Spanish and French.<ref name="McKimGreat Chess BooksAtSilman">{{cite web |title=Great Chess Books |url=http://www.jeremysilman.com/chess_gst_wrtrs/041004_great_chess_books.html |author=McKim, D.K. |publisher=Jeremy Silman |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219005645/http://www.jeremysilman.com/chess_gst_wrtrs/041004_great_chess_books.html |archive-date=2007-12-19 }} Published by an International Master and prolific writer.</ref>
*'''[[ICCF numeric notation]]'''. In international correspondence chess the use of algebraic notation may cause confusion, since different languages have different names for the pieces. The standard for transmitting moves in this form of chess is ICCF numeric notation.<ref name="ChessNotationICCFNumeric">{{cite web |title=ICCF Numeric Chess Notation |url=http://chessnotation.com/ICCFnumeric.htm |publisher=ChessNotation.com |url-status=live |archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20170105003412/http://chessnotation.com/ICCFnumeric.htm |archive-date=2017-01-05 }}</ref>
*'''Smith notation''' is a straightforward chess notation designed to be reversible and represent any move without ambiguity. The notation encodes the source square, destination square, and what piece was captured, if any.<ref name="ChessNotationSmith">{{cite web |title=Chess Viewer - Smith Notation |url=https://www.chessclub.com/chessviewer/smith.html |publisher=ChessClub.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117212352/https://www.chessclub.com/chessviewer/smith.html |archive-date=2016-01-17 }}</ref>
* '''Coordinate notation''' is similar to algebraic notation except that no abbreviation or symbol is used to show which piece is moving. It can do this almost without ambiguity because it always includes the square from which the piece moves as well as its destination, but promotions must be disambiguated by including the promoted piece type, such as in parentheses. It has proved hard for humans to write and read, but is used internally by some chess-related computer software.

The following table lists examples of the same moves in some of the notations which may be used by humans. Each table cell contains White's move followed by Black's move, as they are listed in a single line of written notation.
	
{{Static row numbers}}
{| class="wikitable static-row-numbers static-row-header-hash"
|+ Chess notation examples
|-
! Algebraic !! Figurine algebraic !!  Long algebraic !! Reversible algebraic !! Concise reversible !!  Smith !! Descriptive     !!  Coordinate  !!     ICCF
|- style="font-family:monospace;"
| e4 e5  ||  e4 e5  ||  e2e4 e7e5  ||   e2-e4 e7-e5  ||  e24 e75  || e2e4 e7e5 ||  P-K4 P-K4 ||   E2-E4 E7-E5||   5254 5755 
|- style="font-family:monospace;"
| Nf3 Nc6  || ♘f3  ♞c6  ||   Ng1f3 Nb8c6 ||   Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6 ||   Ng1f3 Nb8c6 || g1f3 b8c6 ||  N-KB3 N-QB3 ||    G1-F3 B8-C6 ||  7163 2836
|- style="font-family:monospace;"
| Bb5 a6    || ♗b5 a6    ||   Bf1b5 a7a6 ||    Bf1-b5 a7-a6 ||   Bf1b5 a76 || f1b5 a7a6 ||  B-N5 P-QR3 ||    F1-B5 A7-A6 ||  6125 1716
|- style="font-family:monospace;"
| Bxc6 dxc6  || ♗xc6 dxc6  || Bb5xc6 d7xc6 ||   Bb5xNc6 d7xBc6 ||  Bb5:Nc6 d7:Bc6 ||  b5c6n d7c6b ||  BxN QPxB   ||   B5-C6 D7-C6  || 2536 4736
|- style="font-family:monospace;"
| d3 Bb4+  || d3   ♝b4+  || d2d3 Bf8b4+ ||  d2-d3 Bf8-b4+ || d23 Bf8b4+ || d2d3 f8b4 ||  P-Q3 B-N5ch  ||  D2-D3 F8-B4 ||  4243 6824
|- style="font-family:monospace;"
| Nc3 Nf6 || ♘c3  ♞f6 ||   Nb1c3 Ng8f6  || Nb1-c3 Ng8-f6  ||  Nb1c3 Ng8f6  || b1c3 g8f6 ||   N-B3 N-B3 ||   B1-C3 G8-F6 ||   2133 7866
|- style="font-family:monospace;"
| 0-0 Bxc3   ||  0-0  ♝xc3   ||  0-0 Bb4xc3  ||  0-0 Bb4xNc3  || 0-0 Bb4:Nc3  ||  e1g1c b4c3n || 0-0 BxN   ||  E1-G1 B4-C3  ||  5171 2433
|}

In all forms of notation, the result is usually indicated at the conclusion of the game by either "1–0", indicating that White won, "0–1" indicating that Black won or "½–½", indicating a draw. Moves that result in checkmate can be marked with "#", "++", "≠", or "‡" or to indicate the end of game and the winner, instead of or in addition to "1–0" or "0–1".

Annotators commenting on a game frequently use question marks ("?") and exclamation marks ("!") to label a move as bad or praise the move as a good one (see [[Chess annotation symbols]]).<ref name="ExeterCCCommentCodes">{{cite web 
 |title=Algebraic and descriptive notations 
 |url=http://www.exeterchessclub.org.uk/descript.html 
 |publisher=Exeter Chess Club 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071223161823/http://www.exeterchessclub.org.uk/descript.html 
 |archive-date=2007-12-23 
 }} See section "Symbols: evaluation and comment codes"</ref>

===Notation systems for computers===
The following are commonly used for chess-related computer systems (in addition to Coordinate and Smith notation, which are described above):
*'''[[Portable Game Notation]]''' (PGN). This is a text-based file format in which chess moves are recorded with standard English algebraic notation with a small amount of markup to record the players and circumstances of the game. Most chess software is configured to process PGN files.<ref name="InternetChessClubPGNSpec">{{cite web
 |title       = ICC Help: PGN spec
 |url         = http://www.chessclub.com/help/PGN-spec
 |author      = Members of the Internet newsgroup rec.games.chess
 |editor      = Edwards, S.J.
 |publisher   = The Internet Chess Club
 |url-status     = live
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20040807112541/http://www.chessclub.com/help/PGN-spec
 |archive-date = 2004-08-07
}}</ref>
*'''Steno-Chess'''. This is another format suitable for computer processing. It sacrifices the ability to play through games (by a human) for conciseness, which minimises the number of characters required to store a game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chessvariants.com/problems.dir/steno-chess.html|title=Steno-Chess|first=Éric|last=Angelini|website=www.chessvariants.com|access-date=4 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110114830/http://www.chessvariants.com/problems.dir/steno-chess.html|archive-date=10 January 2018}}</ref> 
*'''[[Forsyth–Edwards Notation]]''' (FEN).  A single line format which gives the current positions of pieces on a board, to enable generation of a board in something other than the initial array of pieces.  It also contains other information such as castling rights, move number, and color on move.  It is incorporated into the PGN standard as a Tag Pair in conjunction with the SetUp tag.
*'''[[Extended Position Description]]''' (EPD). Another format which gives the current positions of a board, with an extended set of structured attribute values using the ASCII character set. It is intended for data and command interchange among chess playing programs. It is also intended for the representation of portable opening library repositories.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thechessdrum.net/PGN_Reference.txt |title=Archived copy |access-date=2007-06-25 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070822185456/http://www.thechessdrum.net/PGN_Reference.txt |archive-date=2007-08-22 }}</ref> It is better than FEN for certain [[chess variant]]s, such as [[Chess960]].

===Notation for telegraph and radio===
Some special methods of notation were used for transmitting moves by telegraph or radio, usually using [[Morse Code]].  The Uedemann code and Gringmuth notation worked by using a two-letter label for each square and transmitting four letters – two letters for the origin square followed by two letters for the destination square.  Castling is shown as a king move.  Squares are designated from White's side of the board, files from left to right and ranks from nearest to farthest.  The Rutherford code first converted the move into a number and then converted the move number into a composite Latin word.  It could also transmit moves of two games at the same time.
<!-- The codes below are in subsections so they can be linked from other articles -->

====Uedemann code====
This code was devised by [[Louis Uedemann]] (1854–1912).  The method was never actually used, mainly because a transposition of letters can result in a valid but incorrect move.  Many sources incorrectly use this name for the Gringmuth code.

The files are labeled "A", "E", "I", "O", "O", "I", "E", and "A".  The ranks are labeled "B", "D", "F", "G", "H", "K", "L", and "P". A square on the {{chessgloss|queenside}} is designated by its file letter and then its rank letter.  A square on the {{chessgloss|kingside}} is designated by its rank letter then its file letter.<ref name="Hooper">[[David Vincent Hooper|David Hooper]] and [[Kenneth Whyld]], 1992, ''[[The Oxford Companion to Chess]]'', {{ISBN|0-19-280049-3}}</ref>

==== Gringmuth notation ====
This method was invented by Dmitry Alexeyevich Gringmuth but it is sometimes incorrectly called the Uedemann Code. It was used as early as 1866. Files were designated with one of two letters, depending on whether it was on White's side or Black's side. These letters were: files 'B', 'C', 'D', 'F', 'G', 'H', 'K', and 'L' for White-side ranks 'A', 'E', 'I', 'O', corresponding to algebraic files 'a', 'b', ... 'h', and ranks 1, 2, 3, 4;  the aligned Black-side ranks were 'M', 'N', 'P', 'R', 'S', 'T', 'W', and 'Z', corresponding to algebraic 'a' ... 'h', used for Gringmuth ranks 'O', 'I', 'E', and 'A' corresponding to algebraic ranks 5, 6, 7, 8. Hence square 'a1' in algebraic notation is Gringmuth 'BA', and its diagonal opposite 'h8' is Gringmuth 'ZA'. A king's pawn opening 'e2e4' in algebraic would be 'GEGO' in Gringmuth, with a mirrored response by black 'e7e5' notated as 'SESO'.<ref name=Hooper/>

====Rutherford code====
This code was invented in 1880 by Sir [[William Watson Rutherford]] (1853–1927).  At the time, the British Post Office did not allow digits or [[cipher]]s in telegrams, but they did allow Latin words.  This method also allowed moves for two games to be transmitted at the same time.  In this method, the legal moves in the position were counted using a system until the move being made was reached. This was done for both games.  The move number of the first game was multiplied by 60 and added to the move number of the second game.  Leading zeros were added as necessary to give a four-digit number.  The first two digits would be 00 through 39, which corresponded to a table of 40 Latin roots.  The third digit corresponded to a list of 10 Latin prefixes and the last digit corresponded to a list of 10 Latin suffixes.  The resulting word was transmitted.

After rules were changed so that ciphers were allowed in telegrams, this system was replaced by the Gringmuth Notation.<ref name="Hooper" />