Editing Chess (section)

==Notation==
{{Main|Algebraic notation (chess)|l1=Algebraic notation}}
Historically, many different [[chess notation|notation]] systems have been used to record chess moves; the standard system today is short-form [[Algebraic notation (chess)|algebraic notation]].{{refn|See paragraph "C. Algebraic notation" in FIDE Laws of Chess<ref name="FideLawsOfChess"/>}} In this system, files are labeled ''a'' through ''h'' and ranks are labeled ''1'' through ''8''. Squares are identified by the file and rank they occur on; '''g3''' is the square on the g file and the third rank. In English, the piece notations are: ''K'' (king), ''Q'' (queen), ''R'' (rook), ''B'' (bishop), and ''N'' (knight; N is used to avoid confusion with king). Different initials are used in other languages. Moves are recorded as follows:
:{{em|notation of piece moved}} – {{em|destination square}}

[[File:SCD algebraic notation.svg|frame|Square names in [[Algebraic notation (chess)|algebraic chess notation]]]]
For example, '''Qg5''' means "queen moves to g5". No letter initial is used for pawns, so '''e4''' means "pawn moves to e4". When multiple moves could be rendered the same way, the file or rank from which the piece moved is added to resolve ambiguity (e.g. '''Ngf3''' means "knight from the g-file moves to the square f3"; '''R1e2''' means "rook on the first rank moves to e2"). If a move may be disambiguated by rank or file, it is done by file, and in the rare case that both are needed, squares are listed normally (e.g. Qh4xe1).

If the move is a capture, "x" is usually inserted before the destination square, thus '''Bxf3''' means "bishop captures on f3". When a pawn makes a capture, the file from which the pawn departed is often listed even when no disambiguation is necessary; for example, '''exd5'''.

If a pawn moves to its last rank, achieving promotion, the piece chosen is indicated after the move (for example, '''e1=Q''' or '''e1Q'''). Castling is indicated by the special notations '''0-0''' for {{chessgloss|kingside}} castling and '''0-0-0''' for {{chessgloss|queenside}} castling. A move that places the opponent's king in check usually has the notation "'''+'''" suffixed. Checkmate can be indicated by suffixing "'''#'''". At the end of the game, "'''1–0'''" means White won, "'''0–1'''" means Black won, and "'''½–½'''" indicates a draw.<ref name="FideLawsOfChess"/> Chess moves can be annotated with [[Chess annotation symbols|punctuation marks and other symbols]]. For example: "'''!'''" indicates a good move; "'''!!'''" an excellent move; "'''?'''" a mistake; "'''??'''" a blunder; "'''!?'''" an interesting move that may not be best; or "'''?!'''" a dubious move not easily refuted.<ref>{{harvp|Hooper|Whyld|1992|p=92}}</ref>

[[File:Scholars mate animation.gif|frame|"[[Scholar's mate]]"]]
Moves are written as white/black pairs, preceded by the move number and a period. Individual white moves are also recorded this way, while black moves are rendered with an ellipsis after the move number. For example, one variation of a simple [[List of chess traps|trap]] known as the [[Scholar's mate]] (see animated diagram) can be recorded:
:{{pad}}'''1. e4 e5 2. Qh5{{chesspunc|?!}} Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6{{chesspunc|??}} 4. Qxf7{{chessAN|#}}'''
The move '''3... Nf6??''' is recorded as a blunder, as it allows '''4. Qxf7#''' checkmate.

Games or sequences may be recorded in [[Portable Game Notation]] (PGN), a text-based file format with support for annotative symbols, commentary, and background information, such as player names. It is based on short form English algebraic notation incorporating [[markup language]]. PGN transcripts, stored digitally as PGN (.pgn) files can be processed by most chess software and are easily readable by humans.

[[Algebraic notation (chess)#Naming the pieces|Variants of algebraic notation]] include ''long algebraic'', in which both the departure and destination square are indicated; ''abbreviated algebraic'', in which capture signs, check signs, and ranks of pawn captures may be omitted; and ''figurine algebraic notation'', used in chess books and magazines, which uses graphic symbols instead of initials to indicate pieces for readability regardless of language.

Until about 1980, the majority of English language chess publications used [[descriptive notation]], in which files are identified by the initial letter of the piece that occupies the first rank at the beginning of the game. In descriptive notation, the common opening move 1.e4 is rendered as "1.P-K4" ("pawn to king four"). Another system is [[ICCF numeric notation]], recognized by the [[International Correspondence Chess Federation]] though its use is in decline.

In tournament games, players are normally required to keep a ''{{chessgloss|game score|score}}'' (written record of the game). This is a requirement in all FIDE-sanctioned games played at classical time controls.<ref name="FideLawsOfChess"/> For this purpose, only algebraic notation is recognized by FIDE, though variants such as long algebraic are acceptable; game scores recorded in a different notation system may not be used as evidence in the event of a dispute.

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