Naming Squares
Part of the Fundamentals section of Coddy's Chess journey. Lesson 3 of 41.
Put files and ranks together and something great happens: every square gets its own name. File letter first, rank number second. The square where the e-file crosses the fourth rank is called e4:
Go along to the e-file, up to the fourth rank: e4.
The name is always written the same way: lowercase letter, then number, no space. Find g7 below: g-file, seventh rank, up in Black's territory:
g7: the g-file crossing the seventh rank.
Why bother? Because from the next chapter on, this journey will say things like "the knight jumps to f3" and you will know exactly which square that is. Notation is the language of chess. Here are three more squares to read on your own:
From bottom-left to top-right: b2, d5 and h8.
Try it yourself
Click the square d5.
Test yourselfThis lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.