Answers.Body: <p><code>1...e5</code> is best. I quote from Section 8.2.2.2 of <a href="http://www6.chessclub.com/help/PGN-spec" rel="nofollow">the PGN specification</a>, with the relevant phrases in bold:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>There are two export format move number indication formats, one for use appearing immediately before a white move element and one for use
    appearing immediately before a black move element.  A white move
    number indication is formed from the integer giving the fullmove
    number with a single period character appended.  <strong>A black move number
    indication is formed from the integer giving the fullmove number with
    three period characters appended.</strong></p>
    
    <p>All white move elements have a preceding move number indication.  A
    black move element has a preceding move number indication only in two
    cases: first, if there is intervening annotation or commentary between
    the black move and the previous white move; and second, <strong>if there is no
    previous white move in the special case where a game starts from a
    position where Black is the active player.</strong></p>
  </blockquote>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-10-17T18:18:56.007Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2013-10-17T18:18:56.007Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: dfan
Body: <p>Some programs/websites use <code>1. ... e5 2.f3</code> (e.g <a href="http://www.playwitharena.com/" rel="nofollow">Arena</a> or <a href="http://www.lutanho.net/pgn/pgnviewer.html" rel="nofollow">LT-PGN-Viewer</a>) while others use <code>1...e5 2.f3</code> (e.g <a href="http://chess.com" rel="nofollow">chess.com</a>). To achieve this, I loaded a FEN that is black-to-move, then made a move.</p>
  
  <p>Which one is best to use? What does the specs say about this?</p>
  
  <hr>
  
  <p>Just to make this clear, my question is <em>not</em> about using 3 dots after a white move comment, for this one I got to the conclusion that it is best to use <code>1.e4 { comment } 1...e5 2.Nf3</code> over <code>1.e4 { comment } e5 2.Nf3</code>, but it is somewhat optional.</p>
  
Tags: <pgn>
Title: How to write the first move of a PGN that starts with blacks?
ThreadText: # How to write the first move of a PGN that starts with blacks?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2013-10-17)
  
  Some programs/websites use `1. ... e5 2.f3` (e.g [Arena](http://www.playwitharena.com/) or [LT-PGN-Viewer](http://www.lutanho.net/pgn/pgnviewer.html)) while others use `1...e5 2.f3` (e.g [chess.com](http://chess.com)). To achieve this, I loaded a FEN that is black-to-move, then made a move.
  
  Which one is best to use? What does the specs say about this?
  
  ---
  
  Just to make this clear, my question is *not* about using 3 dots after a white move comment, for this one I got to the conclusion that it is best to use `1.e4 { comment } 1...e5 2.Nf3` over `1.e4 { comment } e5 2.Nf3`, but it is somewhat optional.
  
  **Tags:** pgn
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2013-10-17. Score: 2 | Accepted answer
  
  `1...e5` is best. I quote from Section 8.2.2.2 of [the PGN specification](http://www6.chessclub.com/help/PGN-spec), with the relevant phrases in bold:
  
  > There are two export format move number indication formats, one for use appearing immediately before a white move element and one for use
  > appearing immediately before a black move element. A white move
  > number indication is formed from the integer giving the fullmove
  > number with a single period character appended. **A black move number
  > indication is formed from the integer giving the fullmove number with
  > three period characters appended.**
  >
  > All white move elements have a preceding move number indication. A
  > black move element has a preceding move number indication only in two
  > cases: first, if there is intervening annotation or commentary between
  > the black move and the previous white move; and second, **if there is no
  > previous white move in the special case where a game starts from a
  > position where Black is the active player.**
  
  
  ---
  
  