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When annotating chess-games, commentators frequently use question marks and exclamation-points to denote a move as bad or good. The symbols normally used are "??", "?", "?!", "!?", "!", and "!!". The corresponding symbol is juxtaposed in the text immediately after the move (e.g. Re7? or Kh1!?, see algebraic chess notation). Use of these annotation-symbols is always somewhat subjective, and different annotators will often wind up using the same symbols differently.

Move evaluation symbols

Move symbols in increasing effectiveness of the move:

??: Blunder

The double question-mark "??" indicates a blunder, that is, a move so bad that it is clearly a mistake given the player's skill. Typical moves which receive double question-marks are those that overlook that the queen is under attack or overlook a checkmate. Whether a single or double question-mark is used often depends on the player's strength. For instance, if a beginner makes a serious strategic error or overlooks a tactical sequence, this might be explained by the beginner's lack of skill, and the mistake will receive only one question-mark. If a master were to make the same move, some annotators might use the double question-mark to indicate that the mistake is not at all indicative of the player's strength.

However, a blunder does not necessarily mean that the move utterly destroys the position; if a player overlooks the fact that he can checkmate his opponent in one move, but instead decides to enter a winning endgame, that move may receive a double question-mark, even though the one being played still leads to a win.

?: Mistake

A single question-mark "?" after a move indicates that the annotator thinks that the move is a poor one that should not be played. However, the nature of the mistake may be more strategic than tactical in nature; or, in some cases, the move receiving a question-mark may be one that is difficult to find a refutation for.

?!: Dubious move

This symbol is similar to the "!?" but usually indicates that the annotator believes the move to be objectively bad, albeit hard to refute. The "?!" is also often used instead of a "?" to indicate that the move is not all bad. A sacrifice leading to a dangerous attack which the opponent should be able to defend against if he plays well may receive a "?!". Alternatively, this may denote a move that is truly bad, but contains an attractive trap.

!?: Interesting move

The "!?" is one of the more controversial symbols. Different books have slightly varying definitions. Among the definitions are "interesting, but perhaps not the best move", "move deserving attention", "enterprising move" and "risky move". Usually it indicates that the move leads to exciting or wild play and that the move is probably good. It is also often used when a player sets a cunning trap in a lost position. Typical moves receiving a "!?" are those involving speculative sacrifices or dangerous attacks which might turn out to be strategically deficient.

Andrew Soltis has called "!?" the symbol of the lazy annotator who finds the move interesting but cannot be bothered to work out whether it is good or bad.

!: Good move

While question-marks indicate bad moves, exclamation-points ("!") indicate good moves. However, annotators are usually somewhat conservative with the use of this symbol, as not all good moves deserve an exclamation-point. Usually the move must demonstrate the player's skill. For example, few annotators would comment a game in this way: 1.e4! c5! 2.Nf3! d6!. All the moves of this mainline Sicilian Defense are good ones, but the players have not really demonstrated much skill by playing through well-known opening-theory. Once the players start making good choices when faced with difficult decisions, however, some of the moves may receive exclamation-points from annotators. Typical moves receiving exclamation-points are good opening-novelties, well-timed breakthroughs, sound sacrifices, and moves which avoid falling into traps.

‼: Brilliant move

The double exclamation-point ("‼") is used to praise a move which the annotator thinks really shows the player's skill. Such moves are usually hard to find. These may include sound sacrifices of large amounts of material and moves that at first glance seem very counter-intuitive.

Position evaluation symbols

∞: Unclear

It is unclear who (if anyone) has an advantage. This is often used when a position is highly asymmetrical, such as Black having a ruined pawn structure but dangerous active piece-play.

=: Even position

This symbol indicates that the annotator believes that White and Black have equal chances.

+/= (=/+): Slight advantage

This symbol indicates that White (Black) has slightly better chances.

+/- (-/+): Advantage

This symbol indicates that White (Black) has much better chances. It is usually written as: ±, and the other similar symbols are written in that style too.

+- (-+): Decisive advantage

This symbol indicates that White (Black) has a winning advantage.

Other symbols

Some annotators put together even more question-marks and exclamation-points. For example "????" might indicate an outright horrid move, too horrid to give a mere "??". However, use of such symbols is not common.

There are some other symbols used in multilingual publications such as the Chess Informant and Encyclopedia of Chess Openings. These include:

○: Space

↑: Time or initiative

These symbols indicate an advantage in the given area.

↑↑: Development

Indicates a lead in development. Also written ↻

⇄: Counterplay

Indicates that the player has counterplay.

∇: Countering

Indicates the opponent's plan this defends against.

Δ: Idea

Indicates the future plan this move supports.

The Nunn Convention

In his book Secrets of Rook Endings (Gambit, 1992) and other books in the series, John Nunn uses these symbols in a more specific way in the context of endgames where the optimal line of play can be determined with some certainty:

• ! - the only move which maintains the current evaluation of the position: if the position is theoretically drawn, this is the only move which does not lose; if the position is theoretically won, this is the only move which secures the win. A "!" is used no matter how trivial the move in question; the only exception is if it is the only legal move
• !! - A particularly difficult to find ! move
• ? - a move which negatively affects the evaluation of the position: if the position was drawn before the move, it is now lost; if it was won before the move, it is now drawn or lost
• ?? - an obviously bad ? move
• !? - a move which makes the opponent's task harder or one's own task easier; for example, in a theoretically lost position, a move which forces the opponent to find several ! moves in order to win
• ?! - a move which makes the opponent's task easier or one's own task harder; for example, in a theoretically won position, a move which requires several subsequent ! moves in order to win

This convention has been used in some later works, such as Karsten Muller and Frank Lamprecht's Fundamental Chess Endings (Gambit, 2001), but it can be safely assumed the convention is not being used unless there is a specific note otherwise.

References

• Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings, Chess Informant (Šahovski informator), 1966.

1. Chess Cafe review of Chess Life

See also

algebraic chess notation

• Chess notation