descriptive notation

Old fashioned way to record chess games, nowadays replaced by the algebraic notation. The files are named after the pieces positioned on them at the start of the game. For instance, the a-file in algebraic notation is the queen's rook, or QR, file. In descriptive notation, the ranks are numbered but the numbering depends on perspective of the player on the move: The initial position of the White queen on the board is called Q1 when it is White's turn and Q8 when it is Black's turn.

RD Glossary by Run Digital