Algebraic notation (chess) board. Thus each square has a unique identification of file letter followed by rank number. (For example, White's king starts the game on square e1; Black's knight on b8 can move to open squares a6 or c6.) Each piece type (other than pawns) is identified by an uppercase letter. English-speaking players use the letters "K" for king, "Q" for queen, "R" for rook, "B" for bishop, and "N" for knight (since K is already used). "S" (from the German "Springer") was also used for the knight in the early days of algebraic notation and is still used in some chess
Algebraic notation (chess) problems (where "N" stands for the nightrider, a popular fairy chess piece). Players who speak other languages may employ different letters, for example, French-speaking players use "F" for bishop (from "fou"). In chess literature, especially that intended for an international audience, the language-specific letters are often replaced by universal icons for the pieces, for example, Nf3 is represented as ♘f3. This style is known as figurine algebraic notation. Pawns are not identified by uppercase letters, but rather by the absence of one. Distinguishing between pawns is not necessary for recording moves, since only one pawn can move to a given