?!

Also known as:

An annotation for a questionable move that is probably inferior but not necessarily disastrous.

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Explanation

The combination ?! labels a move as dubious or questionable. The annotator sees a defect and believes that a better option probably existed, although the move may still contain a useful idea or be hard to prove wrong.

It is usually milder criticism than . It may flag a somewhat inferior choice, unnecessary risk, a weakness that remains in the position, or a trap that works only if the opponent responds poorly.

It should not be read like . The order changes the emphasis: ?! begins with doubt; !? begins with interest. A program may read ?! in Portable Game Notation (PGN), the plain-text game format. When saving the file in standard form, it replaces ?! with $6, a dollar sign followed by the number 6.

Common confusions

?! and !?

?! leans toward criticism; !? leans toward the interest of an uncertain idea.

View term
Questionable and losing

A ?! move can be inferior without losing immediately or completely ruining the position.

Sources

  1. 1.Standard: Portable Game Notation Specification and Implementation Guide, rec.games.chess contributors; coordinated by Steven J. Edwards
  2. 2.System of Signs, Chess Informant
  3. 3.Chess annotation symbols, Wikimedia Foundation

Related terms

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