When annotating games I sometimes use some chess annotation symbols. The table below gives an overview of these symbols. These symbols are placed at the end of a move.

To indicate the move itself
Symbol  Meaning
# Checkmate
+ Check
++ Double check. Sometimes this symbol is used to indicate checkmate, but I will only use it to indicate that two pieces are checkmating the king at the same time.
   
To indicate the quality of the move
! A good move. I only use this symbol for non trivial moves.
!! An excellent move, even more difficult to see.
? A bad move
?? A blunder, a very bad move
!? An interesting move, probably it will be good
?! A dubious move, probably to risky
   
To indicate the current postion
= Equal
+= Evaluating the position as a small advantage for White. White stands slightly better
=+ A small advantage for Black
+/- A clear advantage for White
-/+ A clear advantage for Black
+- A winning advantage for White
-+ A winning advantage for Black
? Unclear


 

Next chess lesson: Minor promotion.

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2 Responses to “Chess notation symbols”

  1. DEAR SIRS. WHAT IS MEANT BY THE CHESS NOTATION RHG8? THANKS

  2. It’s actually Rhg8 and it means that the Rook on the h-file (the column at the right side of the board) moves to g8. The additional letter h is needed because more than one Rook was able to move to this target square.

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