Figurine Algebraic Notation (FAN) - overview

Figurine Algebraic Notation (FAN)

Definition

Figurine Algebraic Notation (often abbreviated FAN) is a language‑independent version of algebraic chess notation that replaces the piece letters (K, Q, R, B, N) with actual chess piece symbols: ♔, ♕, ♖, ♗, ♘. Pawns are still written without a letter. Checks (+), checkmates (#), captures (x), castling (O-O, O-O-O), promotions (e8=♕), disambiguation, and the rest of standard algebraic conventions remain unchanged.

The key benefit is readability across languages: ♘f3 is instantly recognizable whether the reader’s native language would normally use N, S (Springer), or C (Caballo) for the knight. FAN appears in books, magazines, databases, and many online viewers.

How it is used in chess

Common contexts

• Print media: Chess Informant, New In Chess, and other periodicals popularized FAN so the same diagram pages work worldwide.
• Databases and GUIs: Tools like ChessBase and most PGN viewers can display figurines even if the underlying PGN stores normal SAN letters. See also: PGN.
• Web interfaces: Many sites offer a “figurine notation” toggle for move lists, annotations, and live games.
• Educational materials: Coaches use FAN in worksheets to reduce letter‑based confusion for beginners.

What stays the same vs. standard algebraic notation

• Pawns: still no letter, e.g., 1. e4, 1... d5.
• Pieces: letters are replaced with symbols:
  • K → ♔ (king)
  • Q → ♕ (queen)
  • R → ♖ (rook)
  • B → ♗ (bishop)
  • N → ♘ (knight)
• Captures: x (e.g., ♗xe6).
• Checks and mate: + and # (e.g., ♕h7#).
• Castling: O-O, O-O-O (same as standard).
• Promotions: = followed by a figurine, e.g., c8=♕+.
• Annotations: !, ?, !?, ?! (and numeric NAGs) apply identically. See: Book move, Blunder, Inaccuracy, Best move.

Note: In FAN, the white piece glyphs (♔♕♖♗♘) are generally used for both sides’ moves. Some fonts also offer black glyphs (♚♛♜♝♞), but the convention is to use white glyphs universally for clarity.

Strategic and historical significance

Why FAN matters

• Language independence: A single edition of a book can serve a global audience.
• Scanning speed: Many players find ♘, ♗, and ♕ faster to spot in dense comments than N, B, Q—especially in multi‑column layouts.
• Pedagogy: Beginners quickly associate the symbol with the move, reinforcing piece identity.

Historical notes

FAN rose to prominence in the late 20th century, driven by the success of Chess Informant (1966 onwards), which standardized symbols for both pieces and evaluations. As databases and DTP improved, publishers widely adopted figurines. Today, it’s common to see digitized game collections render figurines on the fly from ordinary SAN.

Reading FAN: quick guide

Basics

• Piece move: ♘f3 means a knight goes to f3.
• Pawn move: e4 is a pawn from e2 to e4 (no symbol).
• Capture: ♗xe6 means a bishop captures something on e6.
• Check / mate: ♕h7+ (check), ♕h7# (mate).
• Castling: O-O (king side), O-O-O (queen side).
• Disambiguation: If two knights can go to d2, write ♘bd2 or ♘1d2 to clarify.
• Promotion: c8=♕, g1=♘+, etc.
• En passant: Write the capturing square as usual, e.g., exd6 e.p. (often “e.p.” is omitted if context is clear).

If you know standard algebraic notation, simply replace K, Q, R, B, N with ♔, ♕, ♖, ♗, ♘ and you’re reading FAN.

Examples

Opening sample (Ruy Lopez)

Standard: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6

FAN: 1. e4 e5 2. ♘f3 ♞c6 3. ♗b5 a6

Context: This line also began Kasparov vs. Deep Blue, 1997 (Ruy Lopez).

Promotion and checkmate

Standard: 1... a1=Q+ 2. Kf2 Qe1#

FAN: 1... a1=♕+ 2. ♔f2 ♕e1#

Disambiguation with capture

Standard: 1. Nbd2 Bxf3 2. Nxf3

FAN: 1. ♘bd2 ♗x♘f3 2. ♘x♗f3

Interactive board (Ruy Lopez starter)

The viewer may auto‑render figurines even if the PGN uses letters:

Compatibility and technical notes

PGN and FEN

• PGN portability: The original PGN standard is ASCII‑oriented. To maximize compatibility, store games using ordinary SAN letters (K, Q, R, B, N). Your database or viewer can then display FAN. See: PGN and FEN.
• Encoding: FAN uses Unicode symbols U+2654–U+265F. Ensure your fonts support them; otherwise, figurines may appear as blank boxes.
• Accessibility: Screen readers may handle letters better than symbols. Consider offering a “toggle FAN/SAN” option for inclusive content.

Engine and analysis output

• Engines calculate in coordinates but GUIs can show either SAN or FAN. Combining FAN with Engine eval (e.g., +0.80 CP) improves readability: “♘d5! (≈ +0.80)”. See: Engine.
• Annotations like !, ?, !?, ?! and terms such as Book move or Blunder integrate seamlessly with FAN.

Interesting facts and anecdotes

• Chess Informant’s symbol language (starting 1966) helped standardize not only figurines but also compact evaluation symbols understood globally.
• Some early desktop publishing systems substituted ♗ and ♘ incorrectly due to missing fonts, producing humorous “bishop–knight” mixups in print runs.
• Many online platforms detect your locale for text but keep FAN the same—one notation to rule them all.

Practical tips

• When preparing a handout or article, offer both: “SAN/FAN toggle” for versatility.
• In OTB scoresheets, stick to letters unless the event explicitly allows symbols. See: OTB.
• For opening notes, FAN makes it easier to scan long theoretical lines and spot piece maneuvers at a glance. See: Book, Theory, Home prep.
• Teaching moments: “Spot the Blunder” is often clearer in FAN, because the eye finds the piece symbol faster.

Related and recommended

• Algebraic notation (baseline system behind FAN)
• PGN and FEN (storage and position formats)
• Book move, Best move, Inaccuracy, Mistake, Blunder (annotations you’ll see alongside FAN)
• Engine and Engine eval (how engines present lines that viewers may render in FAN)

Mini example with notes

SAN: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6

FAN: 1. e4 e5 2. ♘f3 ♞c6 3. ♗b5 a6 4. ♗a4 ♞f6

• 3. ♗b5: A classic Ruy Lopez idea—pressure on the c6‑knight and the e5‑pawn.
• 4... ♞f6: Developing with tempo, attacking e4 and heading toward a mainline struggle.

Quick reference: symbols and examples

• ♔: King (example: ♔g1)
• ♕: Queen (example: ♕d1)
• ♖: Rook (example: ♖e1)
• ♗: Bishop (example: ♗c4)
• ♘: Knight (example: ♘g5)
• Pawn: none (example: h4)
• Capture: x (example: ♘xe5)
• Check: + (example: ♗b5+)
• Mate: # (example: ♕h7#)
• Promotion: = (example: g8=♕+)
• Castling: O-O / O-O-O