In the game of chess people have recorded the moves for centuries. The way they have done this is by a system called chess notation. It is a short way of writing down each move so it can be properly recorded and communicated.
The alphabet is used extensively in chess notation due to the fact that one side of the Chess variants app board is lettered from a through h. The chess pieces are also represented with the alphabet letters. When the King is used, it is represented by a K, and a queen is shown by a Q. For the Bishop, depending on the country, a different letter can be used. France uses the letter F and the other countries use B to represent the Knight. Because the King is K, the Knight cannot use K so it uses N. This is because of the Knights nick name, night rider. The Knight is also symbolized by an S, which is the beginning letter of the German word for Knight. The Rook is marked with an R and each Pawn is marked with a P.
The numbers used are 1 through 8. Since there are 64 squares and the game is an 8×8 layout, it makes sense to use a combination of numbers and letters, making a simple and easy method to find out the exact location of each piece.
The White left hand Rook is on space a1, indicating the starting point for the notation system. It is much easier to write the games down in this manner and fashion, than to actually write down the explanation of each move for each chess piece. This way each player can communicate their chess moves through email, correspondence or even by video transmission and other ways without having to see each other make the move.
Some players will have one chess board for each player, so they can visualize where each piece is. In email chess, the player first makes the move and then sends the email. The other player will duplicate the exact move on their personal board and then plan their next move. When players are in separate locations, having one chess board per player keeps the visualization process intact. Of course this is not necessary in video transmissions where each player can see the move for themselves.
One player will send an email (Nb1 to Nc3) telling the opponent player exactly where he will move his Knight (from b1 to c3). Then he will move his Knight piece on his chess board from b1 to c3. The opponent player will receive the email which states (Nb1 to Nc3) and will set the opponent Knight piece down on the receiving chess board on c3. The receiving chess player will then decide on a counter action or another maneuver. To communicate his counter move he will email his move notation to the first player, and then make the move on his chess board. The game continues this way. Sending the email first insures that the chess player cannot change chess piece moves. When a player decides to move a chess piece, he emails the move and then moves the piece.
For video transmissions, the chess players will call out the first chess move notation, knights move b1 to c3 (Nb1 to Nc3) and then put their piece down. The second chess player will move the opponent piece that was called out and then plan his next move. When he is ready, the second chess player will call his move out in the exact method that the first player used. This avoids much confusion and the chess game is not delayed by poor communication and error.
To conclude, if you become interested in bettering your game, notation will help you by showing your weakest spots so you can learn what they are and strengthen them to improve your chess game. There are more precise methods and details for notation, but this is enough to get you started.
