Algebraic Notation

The algebraic notation is a system of description of the blows played failures which was presented the first time in 1745 by Philippe Stamma in his book the Noble Play of the failures , and which was popularized by Philidor before being adopted by the International federation of the failures.

The chess-board

The 8 “vertical” lines are called columns .
The 8 “horizontal” lines are called arranged or cross-pieces .
The 26 oblique lines with 45° (13 black and 13 white) are called diagonal .

In the conventional representation, the White are in bottom, the Blacks in haut.

Coordinates

Coordinates are used to indicate each of the 64 boxes of the chess-board. The notation is simple: on the 8 horizontal boxes, one “numbers” of has to H ( has, B, C, D, E, F, G, H = 8 horizontal boxes ), and into vertical, one numbers from 1 to 8 ( 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 = 8 vertical boxes ).

Each box is then indicated by the intersection of a letter (pointing a column ) and of a figure (pointing an arranged ). For example, the very first box on the basis of bottom, on the left, names a1 . The second, while going from the left towards the line, names then b1 , so on. And the last names then h8 (all in top on the right).

By this system, one can thus indicate arranged columns (vertical) and (horizontal). The column has comprises all the boxes then being aimed by the coordinate has , namely a1 , a2 , a3 , a4 , a5 , a6 , a7 and a8 . And the line 4 comprises all the boxes then being aimed by the coordinates 4 , namely a4 , b4 , c4 , d4 , e4 , f4 , g4 and h4 .

Each player must have on his line a white box ( a8 and h1 ). It is the reference mark generally used to check, before starting the part, that the chess-board is well directed.

When one places the parts on the chess-board, it is obvious that the blacks see the coordinates “with back”:

Parts

Each camp is composed of:
  • a king, coded R
  • a lady (sometimes called queen , wrongly), coded D
  • two turns, coded T
  • two insane, coded F
  • two riding (sometimes called horses , wrongly), coded C
  • eight pawns, usually uncoded (while abstaining from coding the most units, one makes the largest possible economy. Where necessary very particular, one uses P ).
At the beginning of part, the parts are laid out on the adventure playground as indicated on the diagram opposite: two towers placed in the corners, then beside them two riders, then the two insane ones and in the center the king and the lady (the lady on the box of her color: the D hearts are on the column D ).
The 8 pawns occupy the line located immediately in front of these parts.

; Notes

  • the coding of the parts given above takes into account only the natural of the parts: F , for example indicates any insane, black or white. The individual determination is done by the indication of boxes which relate to them.

Table of the notations according to the countries

Officially, the pawn is indicated by no letter. However, some, for very specific needs, assign sometimes a letter to him.

Notation of the parts

To note the parts, several systems were proposed, among which the “algebraic” system is practically the only one with being remained of use.

To note the blow of a player, one indicates the nature of the part (by his code or nothing for the pawn. See higher), coordinates of the starting box, displacement (“-”) or the catch (“X”), coordinates of the box of arrival and possible promotion (“=D”, for example). Examples:

e2-e4: the pawn, in e2 at the beginning, moves in e4;
e7-e8=C: the pawn, in e7 at the beginning, moves in e8 and is promoted in rider;
Cf6xe4: the rider, in f6 at the beginning, goes on the box e4 by taking something not specified by this notation.

The sequence number of the blows is given for the white and is not repeated for the blacks whose blow is registered after une only spaces:
What could give, for a beginning of part:

1. e2-e4 Cg8-f6
2. d2-d4 Cf6xe4
3. etc

In this system, information is superfluous, for example the code of the parts, or often the starting box, or the catch…
The shortened notation , more spread, omits the starting box and the indent of displacement. The beginning above becomes:

1. e4 Cf6
2. d4 Cxe4
3. etc

The system is at fault when two identical parts can lead on the noted box. For example, with two turns, one in e1, the other in d2, if one writes Td1, one does not know which played. It is thus necessary to add an element of the starting box making it possible to raise the doubt: Ted1 or T1d1 if it is Te1 which played, Tdd1 or T2d1 if it is Td2.

For the catch by the pawns, one always indicates the starting column. Example: 2. exd5 (exd and ED are tolerated - ED being besides the form used by the Informateur of failures ) etc the catch “while passing” is written e.p. (in the higher diagram, one would write: bxc3 e.p. although it is not necessary)

There exist many complementary signs to describe or comment on events in a part. For example, to announce that a displacement puts in failure the adversary, to comment on a skilled, etc

The stalemate, the abandonment, nullity (whatever is the reason) do not have a symbol, and must be noted in light.

See too

Random links:Saint-Ouen (Loir-et-Cher) | Norrköping | Massiv | Triviidae | Popples | Cérémonie_(chanson)