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Coordinate notation

Also known as: origin-destination notation, UCI move format

A format that writes the origin square first and the destination square second, normally without naming the piece.

Explanation

Coordinate notation represents a move with two consecutive squares. In e2e4, e2 is the origin and e4 is the destination. Each square keeps the usual algebraic coordinate, with a letter for the file and a number for the rank, but the string does not need to name the piece.

The board position reveals which piece moved and whether it captured. The basic form therefore usually omits x, +, and #. It is easy for software to process, but an isolated string can tell a person less than .

The UCI move format

  • UCI means Universal Chess Interface, a protocol that lets a user interface communicate with a , a program that analyzes moves.
  • e1g1 represents White's kingside castling in standard chess by giving the king's move from e1 to g1.
  • e7e8q adds q to show that the pawn promotes to a queen.

Terminology is not completely uniform. The UCI specification calls this format , while many sources reserve that name for forms such as Ng1-f3 and call g1f3 coordinate notation. This glossary uses the second distinction so the two forms are easier to compare.

Common confusions

Long Algebraic Notation

The long form may include a piece letter and separators. Coordinate notation is usually a minimal string such as g1f3.

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ICCF numeric notation

Both encode origin and destination. Coordinate notation keeps letter-number squares such as e2e4; ICCF converts each square to two digits, producing 5254.

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Sources

  1. 1.UCI Protocol, Rudolf Huber and Stefan Meyer-Kahlen
  2. 2.Standard: Portable Game Notation Specification and Implementation Guide, rec.games.chess community; coordinated by Steven J. Edwards
  3. 3.Chess Notation - The Language of the Game, Chess.com

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