From a8be3deb8d56bd1d34d6b01d336f6ad107a1dbcf Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Adrian de la Rosa <github@brick.email>
Date: Sat, 9 May 2026 15:45:15 +0200
Subject: [PATCH] docs: add FEN specification

---
 AGENTS.md |   2 +-
 SPEC.md   | 111 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 2 files changed, 112 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)
 create mode 100644 SPEC.md

diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index 6c636e4..7695149 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 Agent guidance for the `@echecs/fen` package — FEN parser/serialiser.
 
-**See also:** [`REFERENCES.md`](REFERENCES.md) |
+**See also:** [`SPEC.md`](SPEC.md) | [`REFERENCES.md`](REFERENCES.md) |
 [`COMPARISON.md`](COMPARISON.md)
 
 See the root `AGENTS.md` for workspace-wide conventions.
diff --git a/SPEC.md b/SPEC.md
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+# FEN Specification
+
+Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) is a standard notation for describing chess
+positions. This document specifies the format as implemented by `@echecs/fen`.
+
+## Source
+
+FEN is defined in the **PGN standard** (Steven J. Edwards, 1994) §16, and
+referenced in the **FIDE Laws of Chess** Appendix C.
+
+## FEN String Format
+
+A FEN string consists of **6 space-separated fields**:
+
+```
+<placement> <color> <castling> <en-passant> <halfmove> <fullmove>
+```
+
+### 1. Piece Placement
+
+Ranks are listed from **rank 8** (black's back rank) to **rank 1** (white's back
+rank), separated by `/`.
+
+Within each rank, squares are listed from file `a` to file `h`:
+
+- **Uppercase letters** — white pieces (`K`, `Q`, `R`, `B`, `N`, `P`)
+- **Lowercase letters** — black pieces (`k`, `q`, `r`, `b`, `n`, `p`)
+- **Digits 1–8** — consecutive empty squares
+
+The digit and piece counts within each rank must sum to exactly 8.
+
+### 2. Active Color
+
+`w` — white to move  
+`b` — black to move
+
+### 3. Castling Availability
+
+A combination of `K`, `Q`, `k`, `q` indicating which sides retain castling
+rights, or `-` if neither side has any.
+
+| Character | Meaning                    |
+| --------- | -------------------------- |
+| `K`       | white may castle kingside  |
+| `Q`       | white may castle queenside |
+| `k`       | black may castle kingside  |
+| `q`       | black may castle queenside |
+| `-`       | no castling rights remain  |
+
+Order is always `KQkq`; individual characters are omitted when the right is
+lost. The field is `-` only when none of the four rights remain.
+
+### 4. En Passant Target Square
+
+The square **behind** the pawn that just advanced two squares, or `-` if no en
+passant capture is possible.
+
+- White pawn double advance → target is on **rank 3** (e.g. `e3`)
+- Black pawn double advance → target is on **rank 6** (e.g. `e6`)
+
+Only ranks 3 and 6 are valid. The target is recorded regardless of whether an
+enemy pawn is actually positioned to capture.
+
+### 5. Halfmove Clock
+
+The number of half-moves (plies) since the last capture or pawn advance. Used to
+enforce the **50-move rule** (draw when this value reaches 100). Must be a
+non-negative integer.
+
+### 6. Fullmove Number
+
+The number of the current full move. Starts at `1` and is incremented after
+**black's** move. Must be a positive integer (≥ 1).
+
+## Starting Position
+
+```
+rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1
+```
+
+## Grammar (ABNF-style)
+
+```abnf
+FEN          = placement SP color SP castling SP en-passant SP halfmove SP fullmove
+placement    = rank ("/" rank){7}
+rank         = (piece / digit){1,8}    ; digits and pieces must sum to exactly 8
+piece        = "K" / "Q" / "R" / "B" / "N" / "P"
+             / "k" / "q" / "r" / "b" / "n" / "p"
+digit        = "1" / "2" / "3" / "4" / "5" / "6" / "7" / "8"
+color        = "w" / "b"
+castling     = "-" / 1*("K" / "Q" / "k" / "q")   ; order must be KQkq
+en-passant   = "-" / file ("3" / "6")
+file         = "a" / "b" / "c" / "d" / "e" / "f" / "g" / "h"
+halfmove     = 1*DIGIT                             ; non-negative integer
+fullmove     = 1*DIGIT                             ; positive integer (>= 1)
+```
+
+## Position Validity Warnings
+
+The parser accepts these positions (does not return `null`) but emits warnings
+via the `onWarning` callback in `ParseOptions`:
+
+| Warning           | Condition                                       |
+| ----------------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
+| Missing king      | Either side has no king on the board            |
+| Pawn on back rank | A pawn occupies rank 1 or rank 8                |
+| Too many pawns    | Either side has more than 8 pawns               |
+| Too many pieces   | Either side has more than 16 pieces (all types) |
+
+These conditions are legal according to the FEN grammar but represent positions
+that cannot arise in a legal game.