{{short description|Notation for recording chess games}}
'''Descriptive notation''' is a [[chess notation]] system based on abbreviated natural language. Its distinctive features are referencesthat it refers to files by the piece that occupies the back rank square in the starting position, and describingthat squaresit describes each square two ways depending on whether it's is from White or Black's point of view. It was common in English, Spanish and French chess literature until about 1980.<ref>{{harvcol|Brace|1977|pp=79–80}}</ref><ref>{{harvcol|Sunnucks|1970|p=325}}</ref> In most other languages, the more concise [[algebraic notation (chess)|algebraic notation]] was in use. Since 1981, [[FIDE]] no longer recognizes descriptive notation, and algebraic notation is the accepted worldwide standard.
