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.)
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.)
***
"(>/=)" 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.
***
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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Copyright (©) A.J. Goldsby I;
Copyright (c) A.J. Goldsby, 1975 - 2014.
Copyright (c) A.J. Goldsby, 2015.
All rights
reserved.