Moves Move evaluation symbols, by decreasing severity or increasing effectiveness of the move:
?? (Blunder) The double question mark "??" indicates a
blunder, a critically bad mistake. Typical moves that receive double question marks are those that overlook a
tactic that wins substantial , overlook a
checkmate, or miss a winning move after a severe mistake by the opponent. A "??"-worthy move may result in an immediately lost position, turn a won position into a draw, lose an important piece or otherwise severely worsen the player's position. Blunders occur at all levels of play. In fact, one of the most infamous blunders in chess history occurred in the twenty-third game of the
1892 World Chess Championship, which famously came to an abrupt and unexpected end when
Mikhail Chigorin hung a mate in two in an otherwise completely winning position.
? (Mistake) A single question mark "?" indicates that the annotator thinks that the move is a mistake and should not have been played.
! (Good move) An exclamation point "!" indicates a good move, especially one that is surprising or requires particular skill. The symbol may also be interpreted as "best move". Annotators are usually somewhat conservative with the use of this symbol; for example, it is not usually awarded to obvious moves that capture material or deliver checkmate. Reasons for awarding the symbol vary greatly between annotators; among them are strong , good psychological opening choices, well-timed breakthroughs, sound
sacrifices, moves that set
traps in lost positions, moves that avoid such traps, moves that punish mistakes well, sequential moves during brilliancies, and being the only good move that maintains the player's position.
!! (Brilliant move) The double exclamation point "!!" is used for outstanding
Unusual symbols The majority of chess writers and editors consider symbols more than two characters long unnecessary. However a few writers have used three or more exclamation points ("!!!") for an exceptionally brilliant move, three or more question marks ("???") for an exceptionally bad blunder, or unusual combinations of exclamation points and question marks ("!?!", "?!?" etc) for particularly unusual, spectacular, controversial or unsound moves. For example, when annotating
Rotlewi–Rubinstein 1907,
Hans Kmoch awarded Rubinstein's 22...Rxc3 three exclamation points. Annotators have also awarded the final move of
Levitsky–Marshall 1912 (the "Gold Coins Game"), 23...Qg3 the "!!!" symbol. An exceptionally bad blunder which has sometimes been awarded three or more question marks occurred in Deep Fritz–Kramnik 2006, when
Kramnik played 34...Qe3, overlooking a mate in one with 35.Qh7#.
Parentheses Sometimes annotation symbols are put in parentheses, e.g. "(?)", "(!)". Different writers have used these in different ways.
Ludek Pachman used "(?)" to indicate a move that he considered inferior but that he did not wish to comment on further;
Simon Webb used it to indicate a move that is objectively sound, but was in his opinion a poor psychological choice; and
Robert Hübner (see below) used it to indicate a move that is inaccurate and makes the player's task more difficult. When put in parentheses, "(!)" usually indicates a subtlety which demonstrates the player's skill rather than a spectacular move. == Formalized definitions ==