Objectives

1. Students will explain the orientation of the chess board.  Next, they will explain the letters and numbers that identify the columns and files on the chess board. Finally, they demonstrate the intersection of letters and numbers and explain the names of the squares at each intersection.

Board Orientation:

A tournament-style chess board is divided into sixty-four squares with letters across the top and

On a chessboard, there are ranks and files. Numbers name the ranks from one to eight, and the files are named by letters from (a to h).  This creates a grid, and where the letters and numbers of the grid intersect, each square has a name or address.  In chess, the letter goes before the

number: for example, the first in the bottom left-hand corner should be a1.  Consequently, the square on the opposite end of the board should be h8.

Algebraic Equation is also known as Chess Notation

Chess Pieces

Symbols

King =K

Queen= Q

Bishop = B

Pawns can be represented with a P or nothing at all.

Knight = N

The letter “N” is used to represent the Knight.  This way, the Knight and the King will not be confused because both words begin with a K.

Rook= R

The pawns are not represented at all.  For example, in a notation sentence, if you see (e4), a pawn moves to e4.

Capture

A capture is represented with an “x,” so the sentence would look like this Qxe4, meaning Queen captures on e4. Or Nxe4.  If you see xe4, this means a pawn captured on “e4.”

0-0-0 and 0-0

This symbol represents long-side castling.

+

A plus sign represents a check. For example Rg7+ and Kd8

#

A number sign represents a checkmate. For example, Qh8#