Algebraic notation is the standard method ofchess notation, used for recording and describing moves. It is based on a system ofcoordinates to identify each square on the board uniquely.[1] It is now almost universally used by books, magazines, newspapers and software, and is the only form of notation recognized byFIDE,[2] the international chess governing body.
An early form of algebraic notation was invented by the Syrian playerPhilip Stamma in the 18th century. In the 19th century, it came into general use in German chess literature and was subsequently adopted in Russian chess literature.Descriptive notation, based on abbreviated natural language, was generally used in English language chess publications until the 1980s. Similar descriptive systems were in use in Spain and France. A few players still use descriptive notation, but it is no longer recognized by FIDE, and may not be used as evidence in the event of a dispute.
The term "algebraic notation" may be considered amisnomer, as the system is unrelated toalgebra.[1]
Each square of the board is identified by a unique coordinate pair—a letter and a number—from White's point of view. The vertical columns of squares, calledfiles, are labeleda throughh from White's left (thequeenside) to right (thekingside). The horizontal rows of squares, calledranks, are numbered1 to8 starting from White's side of the board. Thus each square has a unique identification of file letter followed by rank number. For example, the initial square of White's king is designated as "e1".
Eachpiece type (other than pawns) is identified by an uppercase letter. English-speaking players use the lettersK forking,Q forqueen,R forrook,B forbishop andN forknight. Different initial letters are used by other languages.
In modern chess literature, especially that intended for an international audience, the language-specific letters are usually replaced by universally recognizedpiece symbols; for example,♞c6 in place ofNc6. This style is known asfigurine algebraic notation. TheUnicodeMiscellaneous Symbols set includes all the symbols necessary for figurine algebraic notation.[3]
In standard (or short-form) algebraic notation, each move of a piece is indicated by the piece's uppercase letter, plus the coordinates of the destination square. For example,Be5 (bishop moves to e5),Nf3 (knight moves to f3). For pawn moves, a letter indicating pawn is not used, only the destination square is given. For example,c5 (pawn moves to c5).
When a piece makes acapture, an "x" is inserted immediately before the destination square. For example,Bxe5 (bishop captures the piece on e5). When a pawn makes a capture, thefile from which the pawn departed is used to identify the pawn. For example,exd5 (pawn on the e-file captures the piece on d5).
En passant captures are indicated by specifying the capturing pawn's file of departure, the "x", the destination square (not the square of the captured pawn) and (optionally) the suffix "e.p." indicating the capture wasen passant.[5] For example,exd6 e.p.
Sometimes amultiplication sign (×) or acolon (:) is used instead of "x", either in the middle (B:e5) or at the end (Be5:). Some publications, such as theEncyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO), omit any indication that a capture has been made; for example,Be5 instead of Bxe5;ed6 instead of exd6 or exd6 e.p.
When it is unambiguous to do so, a pawn capture is sometimes described by specifying only the files involved (exd or evened). These shortened forms are sometimes calledabbreviated algebraic notation orminimal algebraic notation.
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
| 8 |           | 8 | |||||||
| 7 | 7 | ||||||||
| 6 | 6 | ||||||||
| 5 | 5 | ||||||||
| 4 | 4 | ||||||||
| 3 | 3 | ||||||||
| 2 | 2 | ||||||||
| 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
When two (or more) identical pieces can move to the same square, the moving piece is uniquely identified by specifying the piece's letter, followed by (in descending order of preference):
If neither file nor rank alone is sufficient to identify the piece (such as when three or more pieces of the same type can move to the same square), then both are specified (double disambiguation).
In the diagram, both black rooks could legally move to f8, so the move of the d8-rook to f8 is disambiguated asRdf8. For the white rooks on the a-file which could both move to a3, it is necessary to provide therank of the moving piece, i.e.,R1a3.
In the case of the white queen on h4 moving to e1, neither the rank nor file alone are sufficient to disambiguate from the other white queens. As such, this move is writtenQh4e1.
As above, an "x" can be inserted to indicate a capture; for example, if the final case were a capture, it would be written asQh4xe1.
When a pawnpromotes, the piece promoted to is indicated at the end. For example, a pawn on e7 promoting to a queen on e8 may be variously rendered ase8Q,e8=Q,e8(Q),e8/Q etc.
Castling is indicated by the special notations0-0 (forkingside castling) and0-0-0 (queenside castling).O-O andO-O-O (letter O rather than digit 0) are also commonly used.[a]
A move that places the opponent'sking incheck usually has the symbol "+" appended. Alternatively, sometimes adagger (†) or the abbreviation "ch" is used. Some publications indicate adiscovered check with an abbreviation such as "dis ch", or with a specific symbol.Double check is usually indicated the same as check, but is sometimes represented specifically as "dbl ch" or "++", particularly in older chess literature. Some publications such asECO omit any indication of check.
Checkmate at the completion of moves is represented by the symbol "#" in standard FIDE notation and PGN. The wordmate is commonly used instead; occasionally a double dagger (‡) or a double plus sign (++) is used, although the double plus sign is also used to represent "double check" when a king is under attack by two enemy pieces simultaneously. A checkmate is represented by "≠" (thenot equal sign) in themacOS chess application. InRussian and ex-USSR publications, where captures are indicated by ":", checkmate can also be represented by "X" or "x".
FIDE specifies draw offers to be recorded by an equals sign with parentheses "(=)" after the move on thescore sheet.[7] This is not usually included in published game scores.
The notation1–0 at the completion of moves indicates that White won,0–1 indicates that Black won and½–½ indicates adraw. In case offorfeit, the scores 0–0, ½–0 and 0–½ are also possible.[8][9] In case of loss by default, results are +/−, −/+ or −/−.
Except in the case of checkmate, there is no information in the notation regarding the circumstance of the final result. Merely 1–0 or 0–1 is written whether a playerresigned, lost due totime control or forfeited; in the case of a draw ½–½ is written whether the draw was decided by mutual agreement, repetition, stalemate, 50-move rule ordead position. Sometimes direct information is given by words such as "resigns", "draw agreed" etc., but this is not considered part of the notation, rather a part of the narrative text.
Besides standard (or short form) algebraic notation already described, several similar systems have been used.
In long algebraic notation, also known as fully expanded algebraic notation, both the starting and ending squares are specified, for example:e2e4. Sometimes these are separated by a hyphen, e.g.Nb1-c3, while captures are indicated by an "x", e.g.Rd3xd7. Long algebraic notation takes more space and is no longer commonly used in print; however, it has the advantage of clarity. Both short and long algebraic notation are acceptable for keeping a record of the moves on a scoresheet, as is required in FIDE rated games.
A form of long algebraic notation (without piece names) is also used by theUniversal Chess Interface (UCI) standard, which is a common way for graphical chess programs to communicate with chess engines, e.g. e2e4, e1g1 (castling), e7e8q (promotion).[10]
In internationalcorrespondence chess the use of algebraic notation may cause confusion, since different languages employ different names (and therefore different initial letters) for the pieces, and some players may be unfamiliar with theLatin alphabet. Hence, the standard for transmitting moves by post or email isICCF numeric notation, which identifies squares using numerical coordinates, and identifies both the departure and destination squares. For example, the move 1.e4 is rendered as 1.5254. In recent years, the majority of correspondence games have been played on on-line servers rather than by email or post, leading to a decline in the use of ICCF numeric notation.
Portable Game Notation (PGN) is a text-based file format for storing chess games, which uses standard English algebraic notation and a small amount of markup.[11] PGN can be processed by almost all chess software, as well as being easily readable by humans. For example, theGame of the Century could be represented as follows in PGN:
[Event "Third Rosenwald Trophy"][Site "New York, NY USA"][Date "1956.10.17"][EventDate "1956.10.07"][Round "8"][Result "0-1"][White "Donald Byrne"][Black "Robert James Fischer"][ECO "D92"][WhiteElo "?"][BlackElo "?"][PlyCount "82"]1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.d4 O-O 5.Bf4 d5 6.Qb3 dxc4 7.Qxc4 c6 8.e4 Nbd7 9.Rd1 Nb6 10.Qc5 Bg4 11.Bg5 Na4 12.Qa3 Nxc3 13.bxc3 Nxe4 14.Bxe7 Qb6 15.Bc4 Nxc3 16.Bc5 Rfe8+ 17.Kf1 Be6 18.Bxb6 Bxc4+ 19.Kg1 Ne2+ 20.Kf1 Nxd4+ 21.Kg1 Ne2+ 22.Kf1 Nc3+ 23.Kg1 axb6 24.Qb4 Ra4 25.Qxb6 Nxd1 26.h3 Rxa2 27.Kh2 Nxf2 28.Re1 Rxe1 29.Qd8+ Bf8 30.Nxe1 Bd5 31.Nf3 Ne4 32.Qb8 b5 33.h4 h5 34.Ne5 Kg7 35.Kg1 Bc5+ 36.Kf1 Ng3+ 37.Ke1 Bb4+ 38.Kd1 Bb3+ 39.Kc1 Ne2+ 40.Kb1 Nc3+ 41.Kc1 Rc2# 0-1
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
| 8 |          | 8 | |||||||
| 7 | 7 | ||||||||
| 6 | 6 | ||||||||
| 5 | 5 | ||||||||
| 4 | 4 | ||||||||
| 3 | 3 | ||||||||
| 2 | 2 | ||||||||
| 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
A game or series of moves is generally written in one of two ways; in two columns, as White/Black pairs, preceded by the move number and a period:
or horizontally:
Moves may be interspersed with commentary, calledannotations. When thegame score resumes with a Black move, anellipsis (...) fills the position of the White move, for example:
Though not technically a part of algebraic notation, the following are some symbols commonly used by annotators, for example in publicationsChess Informant andEncyclopaedia of Chess Openings, to give editorial comment on a move or position.
The symbol chosen is appended to the end of the move notation, for example, in theSoller Gambit: 1.d4 e5?! 2.dxe5 f6 3.e4! Nc6 4.Bc4+/−.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| !! | A brilliant—and usually surprising—move |
| ! | A very good move |
| !? | An interesting move that may not be the best |
| ?! | A dubious move that is not easily refutable |
| ? | A bad move; a mistake |
| ?? | Ablunder (i.e. critically bad mistake) |
| ⌓ | A better move than the one played |
| □ | Aforced move; the only reasonable move, or the only move available |
| TNorN | Atheoretical novelty |
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| = | Both players haveequal chances. |
| +/= or⩲ | White has a slight plus. |
| =/+ or⩱ | Black has a slight plus. |
| +/− or ± | White has a clear plus. |
| −/+ or∓ | Black has a clear plus. |
| +− | White has a winning advantage. |
| −+ | Black has a winning advantage. |
| ∞ | It is unclear whether either side has an advantage; a "toss-up". |
| =/∞ or ⯹ | Whoever is down inmaterial hascompensation for it. |
Descriptive notation was usual in the Middle Ages in Europe. A form of algebraic chess notation that seems to have been borrowed from Muslim chess, however, appeared in Europe in a 12th-century manuscript referred to as "MS. Paris Fr. 1173 (PP.)". The files run froma toh, just as they do in the current standard algebraic notation. The ranks, however, are also designated by letters, with the exception of the 8th rank which is distinct because it has no letter. The ranks are lettered in reverse – from the 7th to the 1st:k,l,m,n,o,p,q.[12]
Another system of notation using only letters appears in a book of Mediaeval chess, RechenmeisterJacob Köbel'sSchachzabel Spiel of 1520.[12]
Algebraic notation exists in various forms and languages and is based on a system developed byPhilipp Stamma in the 1730s. Stamma used the modern names of the squares (and may have been the first to number the ranks), but he usedp for pawn moves and the capital originalfile of a piece (A throughH) instead of the initial letter of the piece name as used now.[13] Piece letters were introduced in the 1780s byMoses Hirschel, andJohann Allgaier withAaron Alexandre developed the modern castling notation in the 1810s.[14]
Algebraic notation was described in 1847 byHoward Staunton in his bookThe Chess-Player's Handbook. Staunton credits the idea to German authors, and in particular to "Alexandre,Jaenisch and theHandbuch[des Schachspiels]".[15] While algebraic notation has been used in German and Russian chess literature since the 19th century, theAnglosphere was slow to adopt it, using descriptive notation for much of the 20th century. Beginning in the 1970s, algebraic notation gradually became more common in English language publications, and by 1980 it had become the prevalent notation. In 1981, FIDE stopped recognizing descriptive notation, and algebraic notation became the accepted international standard.
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The table contains names for all the pieces as well as the words forchess,check andcheckmate in several languages.[16] Several languages use the Arabicloanwordalfil for the piece calledbishop in English; in this context it is a chess-specific term which no longer has its original meaning of "elephant".
| Language | King | Queen | Rook | Bishop | Knight | Pawn | Chess | Check | Checkmate/Mate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| figure | ♔ ♚ | ♕ ♛ | ♖ ♜ | ♗ ♝ | ♘ ♞ | ♙ ♟ | n/a | +or† | #or++or‡ |
| Afrikaans | KKoning king | DDame lady | TToring tower | LLoper runner | RRuiter rider | (P)Pion | Skaak | Skaak | Skaakmat |
| Albanian | M Mbreti king | D Dama / Mbretëresha lady /queen | T Torra tower | F Fili / Oficeri elephant /officer | K Kali horse | (U) Ushtari soldier | Shahu | Shah | Shah mat |
| Arabic | م مَلِك (malik) king | و وزير (wazïr) vizier | ر رخ / طابية (rukhkh / ṭābiya) fortress /castle | ف فيل (fīl) elephant | ح حصان (ħiṣān) horse | ب بيدق / عسكري (baidaq / `askarī) pawn /soldier | شطرنج (shaṭranj) | كِش مَلِك (kish malik) | كِش مات (kish māt) |
| Azerbaijani | ŞŞah shah | VVəzir vizier | TTop cannon | FFil elephant | AAt horse | PPiyada foot soldier | Şahmat | şah shah | mat mat |
| Armenian | Ա Արքա (Ark῾a) king | Թ Թագուհի (T῾agowhi) queen | Ն Նավակ (Navak) ship | Փ Փիղ (P῾ił) elephant | Ձ Ձի (Dzi) horse | Զ Զինվոր (Zinvor) soldier | Շախմատ (Šaxmat) Ճատրակ (Čatrak) | Շախ (Šax) | Մատ (Mat) |
| Basque | E Erregea king | D Dama lady | G Gaztelua castle | A Alfila | Z Zalduna knight | (P) Peoia pawn | Xake | Xake | Xake mate |
| Belarusian (Taraškievica) | К кароль king | Вз візыр vizier | Лд ладзьдзя boat | А афіцэр officer | В вершнік rider | (Л) латнік pawn | Шахматы | Шах | Мат |
| Bengali | R রাজা (rājā) King | M মন্ত্রী (montri) Minister | N নৌকা (noukā) Boat | H গজ / হাতি (gôj / hāti) Elephant | G ঘোড়া (ghoṛā) Horse | B বোড়ে / সৈন্য (boṛe / śoinno) Walker /Troop | দাবা (dābā) | কিস্তি (kisti) Check | কিস্তিমাত (kistimāt) Checkmate |
| Bulgarian | Ц цар tsar | Д дама / царица lady /tsaritsa | Т топ cannon | О офицер officer | К кон horse | (П) пешка foot soldier | Шахмат / Шах | Шах | (Шах и) мат |
| Catalan | R rei | D dama / reina lady /queen | T torre tower | A alfil | C cavall horse | (P) peó | Escacs | Escac / Xec | Escac i mat |
| Chinese | K王 (wáng) king | Q后 (hòu) queen | R車 (jū) chariot | B象 (xiàng) elephant | N馬 (mǎ) horse | (P)兵 (bīng) soldier | 國際象棋 (guójì xiàngqí) international chess | 將軍 (jiāngjūn) | 將死 (jiāng sǐ) |
| Czech | K král king | D dáma lady | V věž tower | S střelec shooter | J jezdec rider | (P) pěšec foot soldier | Šachy | Šach | Mat |
| Danish | K konge king | D dronning queen | T tårn tower | L løber runner | S springer jumper | (B) bonde peasant | Skak | Skak | Skakmat |
| Dutch | K koning king | D dame / koningin lady /queen | T toren / kasteel tower /castle | L loper / raadsheer runner /counsellor | P paard horse | (pi) pion | Schaken | Schaak | Mat / Schaakmat |
| English | K king | Q queen | R rook, castle | B bishop | N knight | (P) pawn | Chess | Check | Checkmate / Mate |
| Esperanto | R reĝo king | D damo lady | T turo tower | K kuriero courier | Ĉ ĉevalo horse | (P) peono | Ŝako | Ŝak | Ŝakmato |
| Estonian[17] | K kuningas king | L lipp flag | V vanker chariot /carriage | O oda spear | R ratsu riding horse | (E) ettur forwarder | Male aftermalev | Tuli / Šahh fire | Matt |
| Finnish | K kuningas king | D daami / kuningatar lady /queen | T torni tower | L lähetti messenger | R ratsu ride | (S) sotilas soldier | Shakki | Shakki | Matti / Shakkimatti |
| French | R roi king | D dame lady | T tour tower | F fou jester | C cavalier rider | (P) pion | Échecs | Échec | Échec et mat |
| Galician | R rei king | D dama / raíña lady /queen | T torre tower | B bispo bishop | C cabalo horse | (P) peón foot soldier | Xadrez | Xaque | Xaque mate |
| Georgian | მფ მეფე (mep'e) king | ლ ლაზიერი (lazieri) queen | ე ეტლი (etli) chariot | კ კუ (ku) tortoise | მ მხედარი (mkhedari) rider | პ პაიკი (paiki) pawn | ჭადრაკი (Čadraki) | ქიში (K'ishi) | შამათი (Shamat'i) |
| German[18] | K König king | D Dame lady /queen | T Turm tower | L Läufer runner | S Springer jumper | (B) Bauer peasant /farmer | Schach | Schach | Matt / Schachmatt |
| Greek | Ρ βασιλιάς (vasiliás) king | Β βασίλισσα (vasílissa) queen | Π πύργος (pýrgos) tower | Α αξιωματικός (axiomatikós) officer | Ι ίππος (íppos) horse | (Σ) πιόνι (pióni) pawn | Σκάκι (Skáki) | Σαχ (Sach) / Ρουά (Rouá) | Mατ (Mat) |
| Hindi | R राजा (rājā) king | V वज़ीर / रानी (vazīr / rānī) vizier /queen | H हाथी (hāthī) elephant | O ऊँट (ūṁṭ) camel | G घोड़ा (ghoṛā) horse | (P) प्यादा (pyādā) infantryman | शतरंज (śatrañj) | शह (Shah) | शहमात (Shahmāt) |
| Hebrew | מ מלך (Melekh) king | מה מלכה (Malka) queen | צ צריח (Tsari'aẖ) tower | ר רץ (Rats) runner | פ פרש (Parash) horseman | רגלי (Ragli) foot soldier | שחמט (Shaẖmat) | שח (Shaẖ) | מט (Mat) |
| Hausa | S sarki king | Q sarauniya queen | R sansanin fortress | G giwa elephant | J jarumi mounted warrior | (P) soja soldier | ces | ceki | ceki mat |
| Hungarian | K király king | V vezér / királynő leader /queen | B bástya bastion | F futó runner | H huszár / ló hussar /horse | (Gy) gyalog / paraszt footman /peasant | Sakk | Sakk | Matt / Sakk-matt |
| Icelandic | K kóngur king | D drottning queen | H hrókur rook | B biskup bishop | R riddari knight | (P) peð pawn | Skák | Skák | Skák og mát |
| Ido | R rejo king | D damo lady | T turmo tower | E episkopo bishop | K kavalo horse | (P) piono | Shakoludo | Shako | Shakmato |
| Indonesian | R raja king | M menteri minister /vizier | B benteng castle /fortress | G gajah elephant | K kuda horse | (P) pion | Catur | Sekak / Ster | Sekakmat |
| Interslavic | K kralj king | C carica / dama empress / lady | Z zamok / věža castle / tower | L lovec hunter | J jezdec / konj rider / horse | (P) pěšak infantryman | Šahy | Šah | Mat |
| Irish | Rrí king | Bbanríon queen | Ccaiseal bulwark | Eeaspag bishop | Dridire knight | (F)fichillín /ceithearnach little chess piece /kern | Ficheall | Sáinn | Marbhsháinn |
| Italian | R re king | D donna / regina lady /queen | T torre tower | A alfiere standard-bearer | C cavallo horse | (P) pedone foot soldier | Scacchi | Scacco | Scacco matto |
| Japanese | K キング (kingu) | Q クイーン (kuīn) | R ルーク (rūku) | B ビショップ (bishoppu) | N ナイト (naito) | (P) ポーン (pōn) | チェス (chesu) | 王手 (ōte) / チェック (chekku) | 詰み (tsumi) / チェックメイト (chekkumeito) |
| Javanese | R raja king | Q ratu / perdhana mentri queen /prime minister | B bèntèng fortress | M mentri minister | K jaran horse | (P) pion | sekak | ||
| Kannada | ರಾ ರಾಜ (raaja) king | ಮ ಮಂತ್ರಿ (mantri) minister | ಆ ಆನೆ (aane) elephant | ರ ರಥ (ratha) chariot | ಕು ಕುದುರೆ (kudure) horse | ಪಾ ಪದಾತಿ (padaati) foot soldier | ಚದುರಂಗ (caduraṅga) | ||
| Kazakh | Кр патша (patşa) king | У уәзір (uäzır) vizier | Т тура (tura) tower | П піл (pıl) elephant | А ат (at) horse | (П) пешка (peşka) /(С) сарбаз (sarbaz) foot soldier /warrior | шахмат (şahmat) | шах (şah) | мат (mat) |
| Korean | K 킹 (king) | Q 퀸 (kwin) | R 룩 (rug) | B 비숍 (bi syob) | N 나이트 (na i teu) | (P) 폰 (pon) | 체스 (che seu) | 체크 (che keu) | 체크메이트 (che keu me i teu) |
| Latin | R rex king | M regina queen | T turris / elephas tower /elephant[19] | A signifer / cursor / stultus / alphinus standard-bearer /messenger /fool[19] | E eques knight | (P) pedes / pedo foot soldier | Scacci | Scaccus | Mattus |
| Latvian | K karalis king | D dāma lady | T tornis tower | L laidnis | Z zirgs horse | (B) bandinieks peasant | Šahs | Šahs | Šahs un mats |
| Lithuanian | K karalius king | V valdovė queen | B bokštas tower | R rikis Lithuanian military commander | Ž žirgas horse | (P) pėstininkas pawn | Šachmatai | Šach | Matas |
| Luxembourgish | K Kinnek king | D Damm lady | T Tuerm tower | L Leefer runner | P Päerd horse | (B) Bauer farmer | Schach | Schach | Schachmatt |
| Macedonian | K крал king | D кралица / дама queen /lady | T топ cannon | L ловец hunter | S коњ / скокач horse /jumper | P пешак / пион infantryman /pawn | шах | шах | мат |
| Malayalam | K രാജാവ് (raajavu) king | Q മന്ത്രി (manthri) minister | R തേര് (therú) chariot | B ആന (aana) elephant | N/Kt കുതിര (kuthira) horse | (P) കാലാള് / പടയാളി (kaalal / padayaali) foot soldier | ചതുരംഗം (chathurangam) | ചെക്ക് | ചെക്ക് മേറ്റ് |
| Marathi | R राजा (rājā) king | V वजीर (vajīr) vizier | H हत्ती (hātti) elephant | O उंट (Unṭ) camel | G घोडा (ghoḍā) horse | (P) प्यादे (pyāde) foot soldier | बुद्धिबळ (buddhibal) | शह (shah) | शहमात (shahmāt) |
| Mongolian | Н ноён noyan | Б бэрс (fers) vizier | т тэрэг (tereg) chariot | Т тэмээ (temee) camel | М морь (mor) horse | (Х) хүү (hüü) boy | Шатар | шаг / дуг / цод | мад |
| Norwegian Bokmål | K konge king | D dronning queen | T tårn tower | L løper runner | S springer jumper | (B) bonde peasant | Sjakk | Sjakk | Sjakkmatt |
| Norwegian Nynorsk | K konge king | D dronning queen | T tårn tower | L løpar runner | S springar jumper | (B) bonde peasant | Sjakk | Sjakk | Sjakkmatt |
| Odia | K ରଜା (rôja) king | Q ରାଣୀ (raṇi) queen | R ଡଙ୍ଗା (ḍôṅga) boat | B ହାତୀ (hati) elephant | N ଘୋଡ଼ା (ghoṛa) horse | P ସୈନିକ (sôinikô) soldier | ଚେସ୍/ଶତରଞ୍ଜ (chess/śôtôrôñjô) | ଚେକ୍ (check) | ଚେକମେଟ୍ (checkmate) |
| Oromo | M Mootii | Mt Mootittii | G Gidaara, masaraa | A abuunii | N namkabajaa | Cheezii | Mirkaneeffannaa | Waayila / Mate | |
| Persian | ش شاه king | و وزیر vizier /minister | ق/ر قلعه/رخ castle | ف فیل elephant | ا اسب horse | س/پ سرباز/پیاده soldier | شطرنج (shatranj) | کیش (kish) | مات (mat) |
| Polish | K król king | Hhetman / królowa general (hist.) /queen | W wieża tower | G goniec / laufer courier /(ger. derived) | S skoczek / koń jumper /horse | (P) pion / pionek pawn | Szachy | szach | mat / szach-mat |
| Portuguese | R rei king | D dama / rainha lady /queen | T torre tower | B bispo bishop | C cavalo horse | (P) peão foot soldier | Xadrez | Xeque | Xeque-mate |
| Romanian | R rege king | D damă / regină lady /queen | T turn / tură tower | N nebun fool | C cal horse | (P) pion | Șah | Șah | Mat / Șah mat |
| Russian | Кр король (korol') king | Ф ферзь / королева (ferz' / koroleva) vizier /queen | Л ладья (ladya) boat | С слон (slon) elephant | К конь (kon') horse | (П) пешка (peshka) | шахматы (shakhmaty) | шах (shakh) | мат (mat) |
| Scottish Gaelic | R righ king | B bànrigh queen | T tùr tower | E easbaig bishop | D ridir knight | (P) pàn pawn | feòirne | casg | tul-chasg |
| Serbo-Croatian | K kralj (К краљ) king | D kraljica / dama (Д краљицa / дама) queen /lady | T top / kula (Т топ / кула) cannon /tower | L lovac / strijelac / laufer (Л ловац / стрелац / лауфер) hunter /archer /runner | S skakač / konj (С скaкaч / коњ) jumper /horse | (P) pješak / pion / pijun ((П) пешак / пион / пијун) footman /pawn | Šah (Шах) | Šah (Шах) | Mat (Мат) |
| Northern Sotho | K Kgoši | Kg Kgošigadi | N Ntlosebô / Moshate | Mp Mopišopo | M Mogale | S Seitšhireletšo | Tšhêšê | Check | Checkmate |
| Sicilian | R re king | D riggina queen | T turru tower | A alferu | S scecc[h]u donkey | (P) pidinu foot soldier | Scacchi | ||
| Slovak | K kráľ king | D dáma lady | V veža tower | S strelec shooter | J jazdec rider | (P) pešiak infantryman /pawn | Šach | Šach | Mat / Šachmat |
| Slovene | K kralj king | D dama lady | T trdnjava castle | L lovec hunter | S skakač jumper | (P) kmet farmer | Šah | Šah | Mat / Šahmat |
| Spanish | R rey king | D dama / reina lady /queen | T torre tower | A alfil | C caballo horse | (P) peón foot soldier | Ajedrez | Jaque | Jaque mate |
| Swedish | K kung king | D dam / drottning lady /queen | T torn tower | L löpare runner | H springare / riddare horse/knight | (B) bonde peasant | Schack | Schack | Schack matt |
| Tamil | K அரசன் (arasaṉ) king | Q அரசி (araci) queen | R கோட்டை (kōṭṭai) castle | B அமைச்சர் / மந்திரி (amaicchar / manthiri) minister | N/Kt குதிரை (kutirai) horse | (P) காலாள் / சிப்பாய் (kālāḷ / cippāy) foot soldier /sepoy | சதுரங்கம் (sathurankam) | முற்றுகை (muṟṟukai) | இறுதி முற்றுகை (iṟuti muṟṟukai) |
| Telugu | రాజు (rāju) king | మంత్రి (maṃtri) minister | ఏనుగు (ēnugu) elephant | శకటు (śakaţu) | గుర్రం (gurraṃ) horse | బంటు (baṃţu) soldier | చదరంగం (cadaraṃgaṃ) | దాడి (dāḍi) | కట్టు (kaţţu) |
| Thai | ข ขุน (khun) king | ต เม็ด / ตรี / มนตรี (met / tri / montri) counselor | ร เรือ (ruea) ship | ค โคน (khon) | ม ม้า (ma) horse | (บ) เบี้ย (bia) menial | หมากรุก (makruk) | รุก (ruk) | จน (chon) |
| Turkish | Ş/K şah / kral shah /king | V vezir vizier | K kale castle | F fil elephant | A at horse | (P) er / piyon soldier /pawn | Satranç | Şah | Mat |
| Ukrainian | Kр король (korol) king | Ф ферзь (ferz) vizier | T тура (tura) tower | C слон (slon) elephant | K кінь (kin) horse | (П) пішак / пішка (pishak / pishka) foot soldier | Шахи (shakhi) | Шах (shakh) | Мат (mat) |
| Urdu | بادشاہ (bādshāh) | وزیر (vazīr) | رخ (rukh) | فيلہ (fīlah) | گھوڑا (ghōṛā) | پیادہ (pyādah) | شطرنج (šaṭranj) | شہ (sheh) | شہمات (shehmāt) |
| Vietnamese | V vua king | H hậu queen | X xe chariot | T tượng / tịnh / voi elephant | M mã / ngựa horse | tốt / chốt / binh soldier | Cờ vua | Chiếu / Chiếu tướng | Chiếu bí / Chiếu hết / Sát cục / Tuyệt sát |
| Welsh | T teyrn / brenin lord /king | B brenhines queen | C castell castle | E esgob bishop | M marchog rider | (G) gwerinwr peasant | Gwyddbwyll | Siach | Siachmat |
A popular and scientific introduction to the game of chess, exemplified in games actually played by the greatest masters, and illustrated by numerous diagrams of original and remarkable positions.
The pieces bear the names: Koenig, Dame, Turm, Laeufer, Springer, Bauer
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| Tactics | |||||||||
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| Openings |
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| Endgames | |||||||||
| Tournaments |
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