The following are the abbreviations in use in scoring with the aid of the
English notation:
K = King; Q = Q; R = Rook; K R = King's Rook; Q R = Queen's Rook; B =
Bishop; K B = King's Bishop; Q B = Queen's Bishop; Kt = Knight; K Kt =
King's Knight; Q Kt = Queen's Knight; P = Pawn; ch. = check; dis. ch. =
discovered check; _e.p._ = _en passant_; Castles, or o--o = Castles on the
King's side; and Castles Q R, or o--o--o = Castles on the Queen's side. To
take may be noted "takes," or shorter thus, x; (!) indicates a good move;
(?) a bad or indifferent move; + the better game; - the inferior game; = an
even game. To familiarise himself with the system the reader is recommended
to study, with the aid of the board, the following example, a "Ruy Lopez"
game, recorded according to the English notation.
{346}
WHITE. BLACK.
X. Z.
1. P to K 4 1. P to K 4
2. Kt to K B 3 2. Kt to Q B 3
3. B to Kt 5 3. P to Q R 3
4. B to R 4 4. Kt to B 3
5. Castles 5. P to Q Kt 4
6. B to Kt 3 6. B to K 2
7. P to Q 4 7. P to Q 3
8. P to B 3 8. B to Kt 5
9. B to K 3 9. Castles
10. Q Kt to Q 2 10. P to Q 4
11. K P takes P 11. K Kt takes P
12. Q to B 2 12. P takes P
13. B takes P 13. Kt takes B
14. Kt takes Kt 14. Q to Q 2
15. Q Kt to B 3 15. B to B 3
16. Q to K 4 16. K B takes Kt
17. B takes Kt 17. B takes Kt
18. Q takes Q B 18. Resigns.
A variation of this is the "fractional" notation, in which White's move is
recorded above the line, and Black's below the line--_e.g._:
P to K 4 Kt to K B 3 B to Kt 5
1. -------- 2. ----------- 3. ---------- &c.
P to K 4 Kt to Q B 3 P to Q R 3
The moves may be recorded in columns or in lines, according to individual
choice. "To" is frequently represented by a dash--_e.g._, instead of P to K
4, P--K 4. A single move of Black is recorded thus: 1. ... P to K 4 (or,
P--K 4); 16. ... K B takes Kt (or, K B x Kt); the dots standing in lieu of
White's preceding move.
Having mastered the notation, the student should next familiarise himself
with-- {347}