Annotation symbols

Annotation symbols

Definition

Annotation symbols are the punctuation marks and icon-like signs that chess authors and analysts append to moves and positions to communicate evaluations quickly and consistently. The familiar set includes exclamations and question marks like “!”, “!!”, “?”, “??”, “!?”, and “?!”, as well as positional verdicts such as “=”, “±”, “∓”, “+−”, “−+”, and “∞”. In databases and PGN files, these are often represented as Numerical Annotation Glyphs (NAGs), for example $1 for “!”, $3 for “!!”, $4 for “??”, etc. Together, these chess annotation symbols provide a universal shorthand layered on top of Algebraic notation to convey strength, error, plans, and positional assessments at a glance.

How annotation symbols are used in chess

You’ll see annotation symbols throughout books, magazines, databases, and modern engine-assisted analysis. A coach might mark a principled developing move with “!” and a tactical oversight with “??”. A commentator might call a speculative sacrifice “!?” to suggest practical chances and unclear consequences. Databases store these as NAG codes so the meaning survives across software. In the engine era, symbols complement the numeric Eval (in CP), adding human context: “?! (dubious)” often means a move is playable but hard to justify compared with a more accurate alternative, while “!! (brilliant)” typically signals deep, non-obvious justification, sometimes a Brilliancy.

The core set of chess annotation symbols

• ! — Good move. Strong, principled, or accurate. Often aligns with the engine’s Best move.
• !! — Brilliant move. Exceptional idea or resource, typically hard to find OTB; hallmark of a brilliancy.
• ? — Mistake. A clear inaccuracy that worsens the position.
• ?? — Blunder. A severe error, frequently losing material or the game outright. See Blunder.
• !? — Interesting move. Ambitious or speculative; practical chances, unclear objective value. See Practical chances.
• ?! — Dubious move. Probably inferior, though not necessarily losing by force. See Dubious.
• = — Equal position. Roughly balanced outcome likely. Sometimes written as “=”.
• ∞ — Unclear. Evaluations and plans are not obvious; complicated or dynamically balanced position.
• ± / ∓ — Slight advantage for White / Black (often written as “+=” or “=+”).
• +− / −+ — Decisive advantage for White / Black.
• Only move — Often noted in text or as a NAG; implies all other moves are worse or losing.

NAGs (Numerical Annotation Glyphs) in PGN

PGN supports numeric codes so software can render annotation symbols consistently. Common mappings include:

• $1 = ! (good move)
• $2 = ? (poor move)
• $3 = !! (brilliant)
• $4 = ?? (blunder)
• $5 = !? (interesting)
• $6 = ?! (dubious)
• $7 = only/forced move (often shown in text as “only move”)

Many databases also support NAGs for positional assessments (equal, slight advantage, decisive advantage), initiative, attack, compensation, and even time trouble. These originated with the “Informant” system and are widely recognized across platforms. See also Annotation, Informant, and Book move.

Examples

Example 1: A classic tactical pitfall in the Italian. After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5, the greedy 5...Nxd5?? walks into 6. Nxf7! — a thematic shot on f7 that drags Black’s king into the center. The move 5...Nxd5 is annotated “??” because it blunders into a well-known tactic; 6. Nxf7! often gets a “!” for its effectiveness.

Play through the sequence:

Example 2: Brilliancy. In many annotated versions of Byrne vs. Fischer, “Game of the Century” (New York, 1956), Fischer’s midgame decisions are frequently peppered with “!!” to highlight depth and foresight in a queen sacrifice line that leads to total domination. Likewise, Kasparov’s famous attack in Kasparov–Topalov, Wijk aan Zee 1999, features several “!” and “!!” assessments marking a breathtaking attacking sequence culminating in a mating net — a model for how annotation symbols spotlight instructive ideas.

Strategic and historical significance

Historically, exclamation and question marks appeared in 19th-century annotations as concise judgments, later codified by the “Informant” system (1966), which introduced standardized symbols for plans, initiative, compensation, and more. With the rise of Engine analysis, symbols didn’t disappear; they gained precision. A “?!” today often reflects a move that the engine’s numeric eval dislikes despite promising Practical chances OTB. Symbols remain essential in teaching pattern recognition, from flagging a missed Zwischenzug with “?” to celebrating a resourceful Swindle with “!”.

Best practices for using annotation symbols

• Be consistent: reserve “!!” for truly extraordinary finds; don’t overuse.
• Pair symbols with short verbal cues (“Only move”, “with initiative”, “threat: Back rank mate”).
• Anchor to variations: show the refutation that justifies “?” or “??”.
• Use positional verdicts (“±”, “=”) to summarize before variations; it aids comprehension.
• Bridge to engine output: add a quick eval (e.g., “± ~ +1.2”) to clarify why a move is “?!”.

Interesting facts and anecdotes

• Chess Informant’s iconic symbols enabled a language-neutral “Esperanto of chess,” letting players worldwide study without translation.
• “Only move” is a favorite in endgame annotations, e.g., defending the Lucena position or holding a Fortress.
• Some annotators use “!?” to encourage readers to consider creative, human-friendly options that engines might rank second-best — a nod to practical OTB realities.
• In many classic brilliancies (e.g., the “Immortal game”), a string of “!” and “!!” conveys the narrative arc better than pages of prose.

Quick cheat sheet

• ! good; !! brilliant
• ? mistake; ?? blunder
• !? interesting; ?! dubious
• = equal; ∞ unclear
• ±/∓ slight advantage; +−/−+ decisive advantage
• $1–$6 NAGs for !, ?, !!, ??, !?, ?! in PGN

Related terms for deeper study

• Annotation and Algebraic notation
• PGN and game Score conventions
• Engine analysis, Eval, CP
• Quality labels: Best move, Inaccuracy, Mistake, Blunder, Dubious
• Context labels: Brilliancy, Book move, Practical chances

PGN tip

To include annotation symbols in PGN without special fonts, use NAGs. For example: 1. e4 $1 e5 $2 2. Nf3 $1 d6 $6 indicates “e4!” “e5?” “Nf3!” “d6?!”. This preserves meaning across viewers and databases.