Originally posted by Dragon FireNot easier in my head, even though I used it exclusively 1975-1989, and primarily 1989-1995. Algebraic is loads easier to learn and to visualize for me, and I suspect for the vast majority of players.
Hell, its the only notation I ever use.
Much easier to follow in your head than algebraic notation.
I've played blindfold chess with both. Algebraic is much easier when I cannot look at a board.
In their current forms, algebraic is also far older than descriptive. Just look at the versions of both in Howard Staunton's The Complete Chess-Player's Handbook (1847) and see for yourself. Lots of us that grew up in English speaking countries think that descriptive is older because we weren't reading books in Russian, German, and Slavic (as Fischer was in the 1960s), but our assumption reveals only our provincialism.
Originally posted by Dragon FireAgreed! The very term 'descriptive' should help explain why it is easier to follow in thinking terms. Much easier.
Hell, its the only notation I ever use.
Much easier to follow in your head than algebraic notation.
My current attempt at being 'up to date' has resulted in a mixture of both descriptive and algebraic. One of my forays into the world of game annotation was on cludi's blog... I think my mixing of the two systems amused him!
Originally posted by WulebgrI guess I still use descriptive because it was the first notation I ever learnt but I agree with you that other countries used it decades ago as I have some Russian Books for the 70s and FIDE tournament bulletins from the same decade all in algebraic.
Lots of us that grew up in English speaking countries think that descriptive is older because we weren't reading books in Russian, German, and Slavic (as Fischer was in the 1960s), but our assumption reveals only our provincialism.
I understand algebraic but when ever I record my games it is in descriptive. I guess I'm just too old to change.
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Perhaps you are wondering about the Kt - this is the same as N
if you wonder about the B-B4 , there is no need to specify which bishop it is because at this point only the kings bishop can move.
It is often written this way when it is obvious that only one piece
and make the indicated move. I hope this helps... passpawn