How to Read Chess Notation

Every square has a name, like a spreadsheet cell:

• FILES (columns) are letters a–h, left to right from White's side • RANKS (rows) are numbers 1–8, starting from White's side

So the highlighted squares are a1 (White's bottom-left corner), e4 (the famous center square), and h8 (Black's far corner). File first, then rank — always. The little letters and numbers on the board edges are there to help until it's automatic.