Descriptive notation: Difference between revisions

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'''Descriptive chess notation''', '''descriptive notation''', '''English descriptive notation''' or '''English notation''' is a [[chess notation|notation]] for recording [[chess]] games, and at one time was the most popular notation for doing so. It has been superseded by [[algebraic chess notation]], but is still important for understanding older chess books. Descriptive notation exists in many language-based variants, the most prevalent being '''English descriptive notation''' and '''Spanish descriptive notation'''.

==Naming the pieces==

Each piece's name in descriptive notation is based on its initial. English speaking players use '''K''' for [[king (chess)|king]], '''Q''' for [[queen (chess)|queen]], '''R''' for [[rook (chess)|rook]], '''B''' for [[bishop (chess)|bishop]], '''KtN''' or '''NKt''' for [[knight (chess)|knight]], and '''P''' for [[pawn (chess)|pawn]]. Spanish speakers use '''R''' for king, '''D''' for queen, '''T''' for rook, '''A''' for bishop, '''C''' for knight, and '''P''' for pawn.

==Naming squares on the board==

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This method of naming the squares means that each square has one name from white's point of view and another from black's. For instance, the bottom left square ('a1' in algebraic chess notation) is called "queen's rook 1" (QR1) by white and "queen's rook 8" (QR8) by black.

The Spanish language orders possessives reverse that of English ("queen's rook" is "rook of queen") and places the rank before the file, so square 'a1' becomes '1TD' to white and '8TD' to black.

==Naming the pieces==

Each piece's name in descriptive notation is based on its initial. English speaking players use '''K''' for [[king (chess)|king]], '''Q''' for [[queen (chess)|queen]], '''R''' for [[rook (chess)|rook]], '''B''' for [[bishop (chess)|bishop]], '''Kt''' or '''N''' for [[knight (chess)|knight]] and '''P''' for [[pawn (chess)|pawn]].

==Notation for moves==

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Parentheses are also used to indicate promotion: P-R8(Q).

When listing the moves of a game, first the move number is written, then the move by white followed by the move by black. If there's no appropriate white move to use (e.g., if the moves are interrupted by commentary) then an ellipses '...' is used in its place.

In Spanish descriptive notation the hypen is not needed, as the rank serves as separator. So the Sicilian opening would be written 1. P4R P4AD.

==Advantages==