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Write moves without thinking.

A position and a move. Type it the way it is written on a scoresheet, and keep a streak going.

87654321
abcdefgh

White to play, move 1. The pawn on goes to . How is it written?

Streak
0
Best
0
Tried
0

Pieces are K, Q, R, B and N; pawns have no letter. x for a capture, + for check, # for mate, O-O to castle. The positions come from the Opera Game, Paris 1858; the move is any move that could be played there.

Notation, the symbols

How to write a move

Nbxd7+
Piece, the file it came from if needed, x if a capture, the square, then + or #.A pawn has no letter: e4. A pawn that captures names its file: dxe5.

Pieces

K
KingKe2
Q
QueenQh5
R
RookRd1
B
BishopBc4
N
Knight, as K is the kingNf3
e4
A pawn has no letter, just the squaree4, d5, exd5

Squares

a…h
Files, the columns, from White's left to rightThe a file, the h file
1…8
Ranks, the rows, counted from White's sideWhite starts on 1 and 2, Black on 7 and 8
e4
A square is its file, then its ranke4: the e file, the fourth rank

Symbols

x
Captures, written before the squareBxf7, exd5
+
CheckQh5+
#
Checkmate, the game endsQxf7#. Some sheets write ++
O-O
Castles kingside, the short sideCapital O, not zero
O-O-O
Castles queenside, the long sideO-O-O+ if it gives check
=Q
Promotes: the pawn becomes the piece after =e8=Q, exd1=N+
e.p.
En passant: a pawn takes a pawn that has just moved two squares past it. Writing e.p. is optionalexd6 e.p., or just exd6

Which piece

Nbd7
The knight on the b file goes to d7The file comes first
R1e2
The rook on the first rank goes to e2The rank, when both are on one file

Results

1-0
White won
0-1
Black won
½-½
A drawAlso written 1/2-1/2
*
Unfinished, no result yet

Notes, for after the game

!
A good move
?
A mistake
!!
A brilliant move
??
A blunder
!?
Interesting, worth a look
?!
Dubious

On the keypad

b
A softened key can't make a legal move here. It still typesYou are always in charge of the sheet
Nxb5
Plyfolio adds x, + and # for you when it is sure, in greyStrict entry, in Settings, turns this off

Nothing is stored or sent. Your streak is forgotten when you leave.

How to use it

  1. 1

    Look at the marked squares: the piece moves from one to the other.

  2. 2

    Type the move, for example Nf3, exd5 or O-O, and press check.

  3. 3

    Right answers build a streak. Nothing is kept when you leave.

In the app

The keypad that knows the rules

Recording in Plyfolio is notation only, and the keypad checks each move is legal as you write it.

See the keypad

Made by Plyfolio, the chess scoresheet app for iPhone and Android. £9.99 once, no account. About Plyfolio