Hi,
When I am reading through chess books with algebraic notation I sometimes see a capital D in parenthesis (D) after a move. For example: d4(D). None of the books I am reading mention (D) in the beginner chapters discussing how to read algebraic notation yet they use it throughout the book. Does anyone know what (D) means?
(D) = Diagram
It's indicating that the position in the following diagram was reached after that move.
I don't believe the diagram comment is correct. I was searching for the same issue and the notations were in French. This was a book on the 1001 best check mates. When I went through the puzzles using this key they all worked.
French: R roi (king) D dame (lady/queen) T tour (tower/rook) F fou (jester/bishop) C Cavalier (rider/knight) P pion (pawn)
Yes, I have books where the (D) indicates that the following diagram shows the current position. It doesn't seem to be universally used though, because I also have many books that don't have (D) after any moves. 
I don't believe the diagram comment is correct. I was searching for the same issue and the notations were in French. This was a book on the 1001 best check mates. When I went through the puzzles using this key they all worked.
French: R roi (king) D dame (lady/queen) T tour (tower/rook) F fou (jester/bishop) C Cavalier (rider/knight) P pion (pawn)
Except that d4 would indicate a pawn move. Also, I doubt that the OP is reading French chess books exclusively.
This notation was from a .pdf copy of 1001 Brilliant Ways To Checkmate by Fred Reinfeld. It has been recommended often. Almost every copy I find available online is using the T and D notations. I posted this as someone else like me searching would find this information useful.
Moves like this are what I was searching for notation clarification which led me to the French1. Tc8+ Dxc8 2.Dxg7+ Txg7 3.Txg7#
Link to the pdf 1001 Brilliant Ways to Checkmate
This notation was from a .pdf copy of 1001 Brilliant Ways To Checkmate by Fred Reinfeld. It has been recommended often. Almost every copy I find available online is using the T and D notations. I posted this as someone else like me searching would find this information useful.
Moves like this are what I was searching for notation clarification which led me to the French1. Tc8+ Dxc8 2.Dxg7+ Txg7 3.Txg7#
Link to the pdf 1001 Brilliant Ways to Checkmate
That link is to a Spanish version of Reinfeld's book, although the French and Spanish notation both use the D and T.
what does c mean in chess notations
what does c mean in chess notations
The c file usually.
So if for example it says Rxc8. that means that a Rook takes something on the square c8. If it says Rcxc8 then that means there is another Rook on the 8th rank that also could have taken on c8 so it specifies that it is the Rook that is already on the c file that takes.
If the notation says cxd6 then that means a pawn that is on the c file takes on d6. If it says ep. after it, that means it was an en passant capture.
EDIT: this all refers to english algebraic notation.
what does c mean in chess notations
The c file usually.
I guess it was just a joke, playing with the thread title.
Hi,
When I am reading through chess books with algebraic notation I sometimes see a capital D in parenthesis (D) after a move. For example: d4(D). None of the books I am reading mention (D) in the beginner chapters discussing how to read algebraic notation yet they use it throughout the book. Does anyone know what (D) means?