| Chess Notation
Zone.com uses long algebraic notation for each chess move, with the coordinates of the original square followed by the destination square. Counting up from the White side, the ranks of squares (horizontal rows) are labeled "1" through "8," and the files (vertical columns) are labeled "a" through "h," from left to right. So an opening move for White could be "e2 - e4."
The "+" denotes check, and the "++" denotes checkmate. The "0 - 1" indicates that the game is over and that Black won. A "1 - 0" indicates White won. A half point is awarded for a stalemate and is indicated by "½ - ½."
English Notation: Zone.com does not use English notation to name the positions on the board, but as many players do, you might want to become familiar with it. In English notation, some of your pieces are considered to be in the King's territory and some in the Queen's. Imagine that the board is divided in half along a line passing between the King and the Queen. The pieces on the Queen's side of the line to the edge of the board are referred to as Queen's Bishop, Queen's Knight, and Queen's Rook, and the Pawns as Queen's Pawn, Queen's Bishop's Pawn, Queen's Knight's Pawn, and Queen's Rook's Pawn. On the King's side they are referred to as King's Bishop, King's Knight, and King's Rook, and the Pawns as King's Pawn, King's Bishop's Pawn, King's Knight's Pawn, and King's Rook's Pawn.
The files are named for the pieces that start on them, and the ranks are numbered according to the point of view of each player; therefore, if one player moves their Queen from Q1, the other player considers the move to have been made from Q8. | |
