How do you usually notate pawn takes pawn in OTB chess?

I've seen so many different variations, I can probably give you at least 6 off the top of my head

Let's say white's pawn on a3 takes black's pawn on b4, there's the standard/most common axb4, but I've also seen xb4, Pxb4, a:b4, a3:b4, ab4, ab, and PxP. No, none of those are typos.

Which of those do you use for chess notation over the board?

PxP is the older notation style. I just use axb4, the algebraic notation mainly used today.
For en passant, many people write axb4 e.p., for example.

@plmw said ^

PxP is the older notation style. I just use axb4, the algebraic notation mainly used today.
For en passant, many people write axb4 e.p., for example.

axb4 is not en passant, it's an ILLEGAL move if you play it as an en passant ._.
axb3 can be an en passant.

@plmw said ^

PxP is the older notation style. I just use axb4, the algebraic notation mainly used today.
For en passant, many people write axb4 e.p., for example.

It's called Descriptive Notation.

you kids these days. Time for you to open a can of pop and watch some black & White TV and realize how easy you got it.

Good Grief.

@ChessPriyome said ^

PxP is the older notation style. I just use axb4, the algebraic notation mainly used today.
For en passant, many people write axb4 e.p., for example.

It's called Descriptive Notation.

you kids these days. Time for you to open a can of pop and watch some black & White TV and realize how easy you got it.

Good Grief.

It doesn't matter what it's called, nothing I said was false - descriptive notation is an older style. What's with the patronizing tone

The rules for recording are written in the rules of chess. Have you downloaded the rules?

@blindfold_games_only said ^

Which of those do you use for chess notation over the board

ab. I always use the shortest notation possible as it saves valuable time.

@blindfold_games_only said ^

Let's say white's pawn on a3 takes black's pawn on b4, there's the standard/most common axb4, but I've also seen xb4, Pxb4, a:b4, a3:b4, ab4, ab, and PxP. No, none of those are typos.

Out of these, only "axb4" and "ab4" are acceptable under FIDE rules ("a3xb4" and "a3b4" would also be). Personally I prefer the most common, "axb4".

@plmw said ^

PxP is the older notation style. I just use axb4, the algebraic notation mainly used today.
For en passant, many people write axb4 e.p., for example.

you can't play axb4 en passant...

for en passant I'd write axb3, any other case just axb4