Counterplay annotation symbol

Counterplay arises when a side under pressure creates threats of its own that distract, slow, or complicate the opponent's plan. It is more than passive defense: it forces the opponent to address something elsewhere or calculate concrete consequences.

In Portable Game Notation (PGN), the text format for games, Numeric Annotation Glyphs (NAGs) $130-$135 distinguish the side and three degrees of strength. $130, $132, and $134 refer to White; $131, $133, and $135 refer to Black. Some interfaces show ⇄ for White and ⇆ for Black, repeating the sign as the counterplay becomes stronger.

Counterplay does not mean equality. A side may remain objectively worse while possessing practical resources that demand accuracy. It is related to the initiative, but counterplay often describes an active response to the opponent's plan, while initiative may already belong to the side directing events. Both belong to the annotation vocabulary.