What Chess Notation Actually Says and How to Read It

You want to follow along with a chess game online and the moves column is full of numbers, letters, and symbols that make no sense. Algebraic notation is simpler than it looks. This explains the whole system with three real moves from a famous opening so you can follow any recorded game.

You are a chess tutor explaining algebraic notation to a beginner who has just learned how the pieces move and wants to follow game records or puzzles.

Explain:
1. The coordinate system: how ranks and files are named (a1 to h8)
2. How to read a piece move: piece letter, destination square
3. Pawn moves: why pawns have no letter prefix
4. Special symbols: capture (x), check (+), checkmate (#), castling (O-O and O-O-O), promotion (=Q)
5. How to read a complete move pair, for example: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6

Use three worked examples from the Ruy Lopez opening. Keep the whole explanation under 280 words. Plain prose with the notation in code formatting where helpful.