Info, and other stuff.

Information ... and other items.

This is a web page that has any information that you might need to know to use this site.

I am a chess player, these pages are almost completely devoted to chess.

Click here to see an article about chess on an on-line encyclopedia.
Click here to see an explanation of chess notation.
Click here, if you would like to learn how to play chess. (on-line)
Click here for an introduction to chess tactics. (Possibly useful to a base beginner.)
Click here to search for chess on the internet.
Click here to go to an excellent site, (The World Chess Academy); that focuses on chess instruction.
Click here to go to the website for the U.S. Chess Federation. (Click here for USCF sales.)

An explanation of the symbols ... that I commonly use when annotating a chess game.

The symbols I use are the standard ChessBase /Informant ones.
(Except they are more-or-less turned on their sides, and with a few modifications.)

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An 'x' means a capture.
A '+' means a check.
'0-0' is to castle on the Kingside, '0-0-0' means to castle on the Queenside.

A "plus-slash-minus" ("+/-" or '+-'), means that, "White is winning."
A "plus-over-a line" ("+/"), means that White is much better.
A "plus-over-an equal sign" ("+/="), means that "White is just slightly better."
An equal sign ("=") means the game is level or the play is roughly balanced.
An "unclear symbol" ("~") means the play is unclear, but should be roughly close to equal.
A "minus-slash-plus" ("-/+" or '-+') means that, "Black is winning."
A "plus-under-a-line" ("/+"), means that "Black is much better."
A "plus-under-an equal sign" ("=/+"), means that "Black is just slightly better."
The symbol "<=>" (or 'cp') means, "with good counterplay."  (For either party.)
The symbol "~" means, "good compensation" (i.e. active play), for the material invested.
The symbol "--->" means, with a strong attack.  (For the player who made the last move.)
The symbol "/\" means, with a strong initiative.
(This is not quite the same thing as an attack, but means basically the ability to greatly dictate the course of play.)

"[]" or "box" - This signifies that this move is probably forced. (The only move.) <<I also now use "T" to indicate a forced move.>>

"TN" - A theoretical novelty or a move that is new to opening theory.

"ICT" = International Chess Tournament. (A FIDE standard, players from 2 or more countries,
usually with a minimum set rating ... in order to guarantee rating and title opportunities.)

"WCS" = A World Championship (series) match ... or tournament.

"LSB" = Light-squared Bishop. "DSB" = Dark-squared Bishop.

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">/=" The continuation that follows this symbol is better than or superior
              to what was actually played in the game or the given continuation.
              (Or the annotator has discovered an improvement over a line that
               had been given earlier.)
"</=" The continuation that follows this symbol is worse than or inferior
               to what was actually played in the game or the given continuation.
               (Or the annotator has discovered an improvement over a line that
                had been given earlier.)

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"(>/=)" The continuation that follows this symbol could POSSIBLY/PROBABLY
                 be SUPERIOR to the line that is currently being examined ... BUT THIS IS
                 NOT ONE HUNDRED PER CENT CERTAIN and/or verifiable!!

"(</=)" The continuation that follows this symbol could POSSIBLY/PROBABLY
                 be INFERIOR to the line that is currently being examined ... BUT THIS IS
                 NOT ONE HUNDRED PER CENT CERTAIN and/or verifiable!!

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    '!' - a very good or exceptional move.
    '!!' - an extremely good move, of great or rare brilliance.   (Not to be used lightly or often!)
    '?'   - a bad move or a mistake.
    '??' - a very bad move ... or a blunder/gross oversight.
              ( I used to use two question marks mainly to denote a blunder. Now, however, I will also use '??' to denote a move that radically changes a game ...
                like when one side plays a very poor move ... that changes a won game into a lost one! )
    '!?' - A very interesting move.   (Some authors generally use this to mean that there is some risk involved with the move that was actually played.)
               (I also use this {annotation symbol} to show that there might be a very wide range of move choices at the point where I have chosen to use it to mark a move.) - Aug, 2009.
    '?!' - A very (extremely) risky move. (Or) A move of highly doubtful value.
              (Or) A move that is very much inferior to some of the alternatives. (Less than best.)
               (I also - now - use this to mark a move that significantly changes the computer's evaluations {for the worse} by a third to half-a-point.)

Most books use many more symbols than this, but these are the most common-place ones.

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I also use the mark, (appellation) '!?' a lot.

The normal interpretation of this mark (after a move) is interesting, but perhaps associated with a great deal of risk. I do not agree with this interpretation and prefer just interesting. I also use it to show a divergent path in the analysis, or a departure from normal opening theory. This does NOT mean the move is good or bad, just interesting ... and there are possibly MANY different alternatives at this particular juncture of the game!!!

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(A glossary of opening terms.)

(This page last updated, edited or worked on: Monday, March 02, 2015 09:47:35 PM .)

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