How do you do old chess notation?

No no, it's all wrong. You guys are talking about "Descriptive Notation". He wants to know about the OLD NOTATION.

Goes something like this ... "The squire, a gentleman of fine breeding and good family, does sally fourth onto the field boldly with advancement of his own Kings footman to his fourth rank." " Sir Smythe, marshall of the ebony forces and also of equal quality in family and affilitations does himself admonish his own Kings man to advance the utmost in reply ..."

(You probably think I'm joking ... ) 

I think you may not be, rather worryingly.

Even in this day of rampant algebraicism, one may still hear talk of the "seventh rank" (upon reaching which the rook may pig out and do untold mischief) - which only really makes sense in relation to descriptive notation.

Circa 1900 QKtP to QKt4

2000 b4

>:)

Hollywood and TV shows will still use descriptive notation.  Sometimes seemlessly weaving back and forth between descriptive and algebraic, as I've occasionally seen done.  Descriptive notation will always be popular with screenwriters because it more clearly underscores the fact that chess is being played - if one character just said "e4" to another, hardly anyone in the audience would be aware that a chess game had been begun.  "Pawn to King four" leaves no question.

Maybe with audio books. Movies and TV are pretty visual, a chess set is usually suficient.

Since more kids speak Bingo than ever b4, algebraic might be confusing.

The French movie that just came out (English title is "Queen to Play") refreshingly uses algebraic notation. However, due to Kevin Kline's pronunciation the subtitles at one point reference the J-file :)

Pffft. The i-file is the hyperspace file and there's nothing beyond that.

Hi Heather, I think that is because Descriptive Notation is more descriptive. lol. But agree with you.

    Yet I am always amazed how Hollywood can almost always seem to set up the board sideways! Or my other peeve; they always have to give "Check!" (or "Checkmate") with some piece that can't even MOVE. ha ... You would think the screen credits with 14 kinds of assistant Director's & Producers, Light Men, Cameral Men, Stunt Men, might just maybe perhaps someday include one "Chess-player Man"??! (Or Chess-woman!) Just ONE brave soul who actually knows the Game !? lol Also they Must always say "aha" or "Ah": "You play the  Sicilian Opening". And the loser will always be overlooking his opponent's mate-in-one, mate-in-two, or losing of his Queen.

   Exception To The Rule: there is an episode of the medical drama series "House" where Dr House plays his young prodigeous Chess-patient. And I think the board was set right.

Well old english version was

K= King, Q=Queen, R=Rook, B=bishop or though some versions had S for springer for some reason. Kt= Knight, P=Pawn, Castles= 0-0 or 0-0-0

You would go 1 to 8 from whites side and from 1-8 from blacks as well. Example. 1.) PK4...PK4 2.)Kt-KB3...KtQB3 3.)B-Qb4...B-Qb4. Just as an example.

Forgive me if i dont get it all right it has been a while since i used the old notations.

The only reason i know it at all is because my oldest brother gave me a 1940's book called Chess. By: L Hoffer if i recall. They had old english descriptive in it. Its where i started my chess learning.

I started writing my games in tournaments with that to start with. Much prefer the current method over that one though.

i was playing my brother in law in a game once i said your an a****** you made me play d5 i dont wanna play d5 and he looked at me like i smoked crack because he uses descriptive

Not bad, but note that in the line you give it's not necessary to say B-QB4 because no Bishop can move to KB4 at that point, so 3. B-B4 is enough. OTOH after 1. P-K4 P-K3; 2. P-Q4 P-QB4; White could next move either Bishop to B4 so would have to write B-QB4 or B-KB4.

In response to an earlier post, QKtP-QKt4 would never be necessary because only the QKtP can ever move to QKt4 (as opposed to a capture) so P-QKt4 is always enough.

Also, a move like B-N5ch (or B-N5+) would almost always be unambiguous because only one Bishop move could usually result in check (the exception, of course, would be if one Bishop move resulted in a direct check and the other a discovered).

Most novelists and screenwriters apparently don't play chess. For example, S.M. Stirling's Draka series mention chess at one or two points, but the moves given by the supposedly extremely intelligent Draka are complete nonsense - not even stupid moves but impossible ones such as "Queen to Knight's Pawn Four".

Intolerable! 

Here's a blog I wrote about another old notation.  This one is a precursor to modern figurine notation.

http://blog.chess.com/qixel/stammas-chess-notation

Amy

Fafcinating!

And in a slightly different vein, A. A. Milne (he of Winnie the Pooh) was inspired by poems on the University boat race to compose one on chess. He claimed no knowledge of the game, although (so says The Complete Chess Addict) he was captain of his House team at school and so possibly understood chess a little better than this ode would have you believe.

This is the ballad of Edward Bray,
Captain of Catherine's, Cambridge Blue -
Oh, no one ever had just his way
Of huffing a bishop with KB2.

The day breaks fine, and the evening brings
A worthy foe in the Oxford man -
A great finesser with pawns and things,
But quick in the loose when the game began.

The board was set, and the rivals tossed,
But Fortune (alas!) was Oxford's friend.
'Tail' cried Edward, and Edward lost:
So Oxford played from the fireplace end.

We hold our breath, for the game's begun -
Oh, who so gallant as Edward Bray!
He's taken a bishop from KQ1
And ruffed it just in the Cambridge way!

Then Oxford castles his QBKnight
(He follows the old, old Oxford groove;
Though never a gambit saw the light
That's able to cope with Edward's move.)

The game went on, and the game was fast,
Oh, Oxford huffed and his King was crowned,
The exchange was lost, and a pawn was passed,
And under the table a knight was found!

Then Oxford chuckled; but Edward swore,
A horrible, horrible oath swore he;
And landed him one on the QB4,
And followed it up with an RQ3.

Time was called; with an air of pride
Up to his feet rose Edward Bray.
'Marker, what of the score?' he cried,
'What of the battle I've won this day?'

The score was counted; and Bray had won
By two in honours, and four by tricks,
And half of a bishop that came undone,
And all of a bishop on KQ6.

Then here's to Chess: and a cheer again
For the man who fought on an April day
With never a thought of sordid gain!
England's proud of you, Edward Bray!