Captures, Check, and Checkmate
Players learn the notation symbols for captures, check, and checkmate, completing the basic notation toolkit, and keep recording their games.
Quick check: write "Nf3" and "e4" on the board and have students tell you what each means. If yesterday was rough, take a few extra minutes replaying the writing of simple moves before adding today's symbols.
- A capture uses a lowercase x. Bishop takes a piece on c6 is written Bxc6.
- When a pawn captures, you write the file it came from, then x, then the square: a pawn on the e-file capturing on d5 is exd5.
- A check adds a plus sign at the end: Qh5+ means the queen moved to h5 and gives check.
- A checkmate adds a # (hashtag) at the end: Qh7# means checkmate.
Write a few and quiz the room: "Rxe5, what happened?" (Rook captured something on e5.) "Qb6+?" (Queen to b6 with check.) Keep it snappy and celebratory.
This is the full basic notation set. Students do not need to master it in one day. They need to recognize the symbols and start using them. Fluency comes from Weeks 6 through 8, where recording games is the norm.
Play slow, fully-notated games. Now captures, checks, and any checkmates get written with their symbols. Circulate and help.
- Reward players who use notation, even imperfectly. The habit matters more than perfection.
- Keep pairing strong recorders with those still learning.
Pacing note for the teacher: it is completely reasonable to spend an extra session or even a full extra week here, just playing and recording, before moving on. Notation is the backbone of everything that follows, including tracking who is ready for the tournament. Do not rush past it. When most students can record a game with reasonable accuracy, you are ready for Week 6.