New players should learn to read chess notation in order to read chess literature and communicate about the game properly. Chess moves are usually recorded using what is called "algebraic" notation. In the diagram to the right, you will notice that the board includes the numbers 1-8 along the left edge and the letters "a" - "h" along the bottom the board. We can use the combination of one letter and one number to describe each square on the board.

For example, the white king begins the game on e1. The black rooks begin the game on a8 and h8. If I begin the game by pushing the pawn in front of the white king two squares, we can describe this move as e2-e4. Moving the knight on g1 to f3 would be written g1-f3.

This notation is further simplified by adding a piece description and the target location such as Nf3 instead of the above g1-f3.  (N=knight, B=bishop, R=rook, Q=queen, K=king, blank=pawn).  Pawns do not need a piece identifier so simply "e4" would be used instead of e2-e4 above. 

The letters O-O are used to denote for castling kingside and O-O-O for castling queenside.  An "x" is used to show that a capture has taken place when making notes at home. For example, Nxe4 means that the knight moves and captures whatever was on e4.

When the notation doesn't spell out which piece to move, then the piece's starting location needs to be identified.  For example, if Nc6 is a legal move for *two* knights, the location of the one to move needs to be included like Nbc6.  The "b" denotes to move the knight on the b rank.  If *two* knights are on b and could move to c6, then you would need to say Nb4c6.

You don't necessarily need to include "check" in your scoresheet, but you can easily with "ch" or just "+". For mate, many players use "#". Now who could resist that!  Often you will see other characters in a chess book including "!" for a smart move and "!!" for a brilliant move, and, of course, "?" for a not-so-smart move and "??" for a total blunder.

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Example notation - can you read this and figure out the moves?
1 e4 e5
2 Nf3 Nc6
3 Bc4 Nf6

Same notation with symbols:
1 e4 e5
2 f3 c6
3 c4 f6

Got that, now try this:
1 e4 f6
2 e5 d5
3 c4 b6
4 d4 d6
5 f4 dxe5
6 fxe5 c6
7 e3 f5
8 c3 e6
9 f3 e7
10 e2 O-O
11 O-O f6
12 h4 fxe5
13 xf5 exf5
14 d5 d4!

If you followed that, you should end up with this board: