Queenside annotation symbol

The queenside is the half of the board traditionally associated with the queen's starting side, normally the a, b, c, and d files. Files are the board's vertical columns. The signs ⟨ , ⟪ , and ⋘ indicate increasing degrees of control advantage in that sector.

Queenside control ⟨

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7

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5

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a1

b

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White’s queenside structure controls b5 and d5.

A fixed region from a through d

There are no queens on the board. White's pawns on a4, b4, and c4, supported by d3, e2, and the knight on c3, control b5 and d5 and create routes on the a through d files. The sign's shape does not describe physical movement.

1. White’s queenside structure controls b5 and d5.

In Scid's NAG table, NAG means Numeric Annotation Glyph, a numeric code that a file or program renders as a visible mark. The single sign means a slight queenside control advantage, the doubled form a moderate one, and the triple form a decisive one. White and Black have different codes even when the visible glyph is the same, so the code or context identifies the side.

Queenside control can involve extra space, useful squares, mobile pawns, or better routes for pieces. It does not necessarily mean an attack on the queen, and it does not guarantee an overall advantage. Its directional counterpart is the kingside annotation symbol.