ICC Help: notation

Standard Algebraic Notation

The pieces are K, Q, B, N, R. Pawns usually aren't named, but can be called P.

The 64 squares have each have a name, consisting of one letter and one number. "a1" is closest to you on the left corner, if you have the White pieces. "h1" is the corner on your right. If you are White, your king is on e1 and your queen is on d1 to start the game. Black has the king on e8 and the queen on d8.

Here is the board:

a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7 a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6 a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5 a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4 a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3 a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2 a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1

Piece moves are designated by the piece letter, an 'x' if it's a capture, and the destination square, e.g. Nf3 or Qxb2. In some cases the origin file and/or rank is given to disambiguate which piece is moving. Castling is denoted O-O or O-O-O. Pawn moves forward are denoted simply by the destination square. Pawn captures are denoted by the origin file, an 'x', and the destination square. A pawn promotion move has =Q =N =R or =B appended to that. Checking moves have a + at the end, checkmate moves a #.

The ICC server accepts many abbreviations and variants on this notation when you are entering moves. Some of these non-standard, e.g. if you have only one legal capture, you can just type "x". Also, the simple origin-destination notation is accepted, e.g. e2-e4. Case is usually ignored.

See also: moves, style, pgn-spec