Algebraic Notation (SAN)

Standard Algebraic Notation (SAN) is the universal way to record chess moves. Once you know it, you can read any chess book, follow any broadcast, and replay any game.

The coordinate grid

Files (columns) are lettered a–h from White's left to right. Ranks (rows) are numbered 1–8 from White's side. Every square has a unique name like e4 or g7. Try it in the board editor.

Piece letters

Pieces use an uppercase letter: K king, Q queen, R rook, B bishop, N knight (N, since K is the king). Pawns have no letter — a pawn move is just the destination square, e.g. e4.

Captures, check and mate

A capture is marked with x: Nxe5 means a knight captures on e5. A pawn capture names the file it left, e.g. exd5. Check is + (Qh5+) and checkmate is # (Qxf7#).

Castling, promotion & disambiguation

Castling kingside is O-O and queenside O-O-O. Promotion appends the new piece: e8=Q. When two identical pieces could reach a square, add the file or rank of the one that moves, e.g. Rad1 or R1e2.

See it in action

Paste a game into the PGN viewer to watch SAN moves play out on the board, or explore openings move by move.