Chess Informant symbols

Chess Informant symbols

Definition

Chess Informant symbols are a standardized, language‑independent set of annotation marks introduced by Šahovski Informator (Chess Informant) in 1966 to evaluate moves, positions, and ideas in chess games. Instead of words, they use compact glyphs like !, ?, ±, or += to convey judgments (good, bad, advantage, etc.) so that players worldwide can understand annotations regardless of native language.

How they are used in chess

Annotators append symbols to moves and positions to communicate assessments quickly and consistently.

• Move quality: appended directly after a move (e.g., 24. Rxd4!!).
• Positional evaluation: placed after a sequence or at a key position (e.g., after a variation: ±).
• Ideas and theory notes: placed before or after a move/variation (e.g., Δ indicates “with the idea,” N marks a novelty).
• In databases and books: you’ll see either the original Informant glyphs (⩲, ⩱) or ASCII equivalents (+=, =+), depending on fonts and platform.

Why they matter (strategic and historical significance)

The symbol system made high‑level analysis accessible across languages, helping to standardize chess communication during an era when most literature was regional. The approach remains the backbone of annotation in books, magazines, and databases. Even in the engine era, symbols provide a human, qualitative summary—bridging numeric evaluations with strategic understanding. Chess Informant also popularized curated, symbol‑annotated collections and awards such as “Best Game” and “Best Combination,” influencing how generations of players study model games.

Core evaluation symbols (with common ASCII equivalents)

• = — equal position
• ∞ — unclear position
• ≈ — approximately equal (with compensation/dynamic balance)
• ⩲ (+=) — slight advantage for White
• ⩱ (=+) — slight advantage for Black
• ± — clear advantage for White
• ∓ — clear advantage for Black
• +- — winning for White
• -+ — winning for Black

Move‑quality and theory symbols

• ! — good move
• !! — brilliant move
• ? — bad move
• ?? — blunder
• !? — interesting or risky
• ?! — dubious
• □ — only move (the sole move to maintain the evaluation)
• N — novelty (a new move in established theory)
• Δ — “with the idea” (introduces an explanatory plan or point)

Note: Informant includes many additional icons (for attack, initiative, time trouble, pawn structure themes, etc.). Their exact typographic forms can vary by publisher/database, so modern sources often replace them with short words instead.

Examples

• Brilliancy mark: Kasparov vs. Topalov, Wijk aan Zee 1999 — the famous exchange sacrifice 24. Rxd4!! is universally annotated with a double exclamation for its depth and beauty.
• Dubious vs. interesting: A sharp pawn sacrifice might be annotated !? if it offers practical chances, or ?! if it’s likely flawed but tricky.
• Evaluation at a position: After a typical Ruy Lopez buildup, White’s space and central control might be summarized as += (⩲) rather than a numeric engine score.
• Blunder illustration: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nd4?? 4. Nxe5 — Black loses material to a tactical oversight; the move is marked ?? and the resulting position is often +-.

Visualizing a typical “+=” middlegame structure from the Ruy Lopez (White has more central space and easier development):

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3. Here White often aims for d4 and a kingside space edge. Many annotations would assess this as += (slight, stable edge for White).

How to read and write them effectively

• Attach move‑quality symbols right after the move: 15...g5?! or 23. Qh5!.
• Put an evaluation symbol at the end of a variation to summarize: 11...c5 12. dxe5 dxe5 13. Nxe5 ±.
• Use N sparingly to mark genuine theoretical novelties; Δ to show the underlying plan of a move or line.
• When fonts don’t support ⩲/⩱, use the ASCII equivalents += and =+.

Interesting facts and anecdotes

• Language‑independent annotations helped unify chess literature across borders, especially impactful in the pre‑internet era.
• Top grandmasters have long contributed annotated games to Chess Informant, making the symbol system a de facto international “notation for understanding.”
• Modern databases still preserve these marks alongside engine evaluations; many tools even auto‑translate engine numbers into symbolic assessments like += or ± for readability.