A Brief History of Notation
For many years chess games were not written down. Moves were learned and retained in memory. The first books of chess were published in Spain in the 15th century and notation systems began to be developed at the same time. The first books of chess were published in Spain in the 15th century and notation systems began to be developed at the same time.
Over the next 200 years, notation systems were invented in Italy, France, and England. The first of these, the "descriptive" notation, involved writing down the names of the pieces and the ranks and files of the board as they applied to each player's side of the board. This system was very cumbersome and time-consuming.
In the 1800s, an algebraic notation was invented which used a simpler, more uniform system of numbers and letters. Algebraic notation is what is used today in virtually all chess publications. Algebraic notation is much faster to write and easier to read.
Explore Chess Notation
- Why Write My Moves (Notation): A beginner's guide to understanding the importance of notation.
- Writing Algebraic Chess Notation: A step-by-step guide to the modern standard.
- Writing Descriptive Chess Notation: An explanation of the older, descriptive method.