Chess Annotation Symbols
When reading chess books or engine analysis, you'll see symbols like !, ?, !!, and ?? after moves. These annotation symbols evaluate move quality. Here is what every symbol means.
Move quality symbols
| Symbol | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ! | Good move | A strong move that improves the position |
| !! | Brilliant move | A surprising, exceptional move (often a sacrifice) |
| ? | Mistake | A move that worsens the position significantly |
| ?? | Blunder | A terrible move that loses material or the game |
| !? | Interesting move | An ambitious move, possibly risky but creative |
| ?! | Dubious move | A questionable move that may not be objectively best |
Game state symbols
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| + | Check |
| # | Checkmate |
| O-O | Kingside castling |
| O-O-O | Queenside castling |
| 0-1 | Black wins |
| 1-0 | White wins |
| ½-½ | Draw |
Position evaluation symbols
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ± | White is clearly better |
| ∓ | Black is clearly better |
| ⩲ | White is slightly better |
| ⩱ | Black is slightly better |
| = | Equal position |
| ∞ | Unclear position |
See our complete notation guide for how to read full game scores.