Different books have slightly varying definitions. The "!?" is one of the more controversial symbols. Alternatively, this may denote a move that is objectively bad, but sets up an attractive trap. A sacrifice leading to a dangerous attack which the opponent should be able to defend against if they play well may receive a "?!". The "?!" may also indicate that the annotator believes the move is deserving of criticism but not bad enough to warrant a "?". This symbol is similar to the "!?" (below) but usually indicates that the annotator believes the move to be dubious, questionable but possibly having merits. If a master were to make the same move, some annotators might use the double question mark to indicate that one would never expect a player of the master's strength to make such a weak move. For instance, if a beginner makes a serious strategic error (for instance, accepting gratuitous pawn weaknesses or exchanging into a lost endgame) or overlooks a tactical sequence, this might be explained by the beginner's lack of skill and be given only one question mark. Whether a single or double question mark is used is subjective and may depend on the player's strength. A move that overlooks a forthcoming brilliant combination from the opponent would rarely receive more than one question mark, for example.
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The nature of a mistake may be more strategic than tactical in some cases, the move receiving a question mark may be one for which it is difficult to find a refutation. Mistakes often lead to loss of tempo or material. They occur at all levels of play to all human competitors.Ī single question mark "?" after a move indicates that the annotator thinks that the move is a poor one and that it should not have been played. Occasionally, the sign is used for a move which transforms a won position into a draw, perhaps because the annotator feels that the mistake is unworthy of the player's skill level. A "?"-worthy move usually results in an immediately lost position. Typical moves which receive double question marks are those that overlook a tactic that wins substantial material or overlook a checkmate. The double question mark "?" indicates a blunder, a bad mistake. Moreover, an annotator's use of symbols is often influenced by the player's strength: a positional misjudgment that an annotator might give a "?" if played by a strong grandmaster might pass unremarked if played by a beginner.Īnnotators' use of punctuation may also be influenced by the result of the game regardless of the actual quality of the move this tendency is sometimes referred to as "annotation by result".
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Use of these annotation symbols is subjective, as different annotators use the same symbols differently. Re7? or Kh1!?, see algebraic chess notation). In these cases, the corresponding symbol is juxtaposed in the text immediately after the move (e.g. The common symbols for evaluating the merits of a move are "?", "?", "?!", "!?", "!", and "!!".
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Some publications intended for an international audience, such as the Chess Informant, have a wide range of additional symbols that transcend language barriers. Question marks and exclamation points that denote a move as bad or good are ubiquitous in chess literature. When annotating chess games, commentators frequently use widely recognized annotation symbols.
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