Answers.Body: <p>It means <em>checkmate</em>. For example, if black was to checkmate the king with his Queen, it would be written: <em>Q__+</em> , the <em>_</em> indicating which move black played with the queen in order to checkmate the opponent's (in this case white) king.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-03-30T21:14:21.723Z
Answers.Text: The answer given by AlwaysLearningNewStuff is correct. `+-` and `-+` always refer to evaluations. Checkmate is indicated by `#`, though I have occasionally seen `++`.
Answers.UserDisplayName: dfan
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-03-31T01:59:56.843Z
Answers.Text: In the question I mention specific positions notated with the symbol in question (+- or -+) which are not checkmate. Also, Q___+ would indicate a queen move that gives check, not mate.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Esoteric Screen Name
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-12-12T22:04:25.227Z
Answers.Text: + is often used for check  but not for checkmate.  +-  and -+  are often used to show that one side has an advantage.
Answers.UserDisplayName: yobamamama
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Answers.CreationDate: 2015-03-30T21:04:54.047Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-03-30T21:04:54.047Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Johanna
Answers.Body: <blockquote>
    <p>What does “+-” mean in algebraic notation?</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>This symbol means "White has decisive advantage", which means that White's advantage is big enough to secure him victory. As for symbol <em>-+</em> it means "Black has decisive advantage".</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>What does this notation mean?</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>This notation is introduced to bypass the language barrier so any reader ( Japanese, English, Arabian, Marsian, it doesn't matter! ) can understand the comment behind the move. In the old days before this notation, commentaries were given in words, which required the reader to know commentator's native tongue or to find the translation of those commentaries. This way, when commentator writes <em>+-</em> behind the move, everybody ( Japanese, English, Arabian, Marsian, it doesn't matter! ) know what it means. It is shorter and cleaner this way.</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>Is it standard?</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>Yes, it is. The symbols were invented by <em>Chess Informant</em> and accepted as a standard. You can find out more about chess notation <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess_annotation_symbols" rel="noreferrer">here</a>.</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>And why are the two games using it with the symbols in different order?</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>Because the positions in those games are different -> in one White has the decisive advantage while in the other it is Black who should win.</p>
  
  <p>Hopefully this answer helped you. If you need further clarifications leave a comment. Best regards.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-12-05T15:52:57.750Z
Answers.Text: The chess informant link is broken - please remove or replace.
Answers.UserDisplayName: David Airapetyan
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-12-05T23:40:11.983Z
Answers.Text: @DavidAirapetyan Thank you for pointing it out, removed the link since I could not find suitable replacement.
Answers.UserDisplayName: AlwaysLearningNewStuff
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-08-07T09:52:22.803Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2018-12-05T23:39:33.383Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2018-12-05T23:39:33.383Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: AlwaysLearningNewStuff
Body: <p>I'm familiar with chess notation, but this has left me scratching my head. Looking at <a href="https://chess.stackexchange.com/a/732/3617">this answer</a>, I see two games ending with moves marked as "+-" or "-+" (plus-minus or minus-plus). What does this annotation mean? Is it standard? And why are the two games using it with the symbols in different order?</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess_algebraic_notation" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Wikipedia</a> does not mention this symbol, and I find searching for it quite difficult. Looking at the two boards allows me to rule out plenty of things - it's not check, checkmate or stalemate - but doesn't decisively reveal what it is. Is this perhaps some indicator of positional advantage (which I can see on both boards)?</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2018-12-06T09:07:30.007Z
Comments.Text: Wikipedia does mention the symbol (see Annotation symbols), though with a slash in between:`+/-` and `-/+`. The actual symbols are "±" and "∓" but they are a bit hard to make on a normal keyboard which is why the plus and minus symbols are placed behind each other instead of on top of each other.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Tommiie
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2019-12-11T16:06:51.340Z
Comments.Text: @Tommiie There is a difference between ± (or +/-) and +-. The latter is a decisive , winning advantage.
Comments.UserDisplayName: user1583209
Tags: <annotation>
Title: What does "+-" mean in algebraic notation?
ThreadText: # What does "+-" mean in algebraic notation?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2014-08-07)
  
  I'm familiar with chess notation, but this has left me scratching my head. Looking at [this answer](https://chess.stackexchange.com/a/732/3617), I see two games ending with moves marked as "+-" or "-+" (plus-minus or minus-plus). What does this annotation mean? Is it standard? And why are the two games using it with the symbols in different order?
  
  [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess_algebraic_notation) does not mention this symbol, and I find searching for it quite difficult. Looking at the two boards allows me to rule out plenty of things - it's not check, checkmate or stalemate - but doesn't decisively reveal what it is. Is this perhaps some indicator of positional advantage (which I can see on both boards)?
  
  **Tags:** annotation
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: Wikipedia does mention the symbol (see Annotation symbols), though with a slash in between:`+/-` and `-/+`. The actual symbols are "±" and "∓" but they are a bit hard to make on a normal keyboard which is why the plus and minus symbols are placed behind each other instead of on top of each other.  
  > **username_2**: @username_1 There is a difference between ± (or +/-) and +-. The latter is a decisive , winning advantage.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 2 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_6 on 2014-08-07. Score: 30 | Accepted answer
  
  > What does “+-” mean in algebraic notation?
  
  This symbol means "White has decisive advantage", which means that White's advantage is big enough to secure him victory. As for symbol *-+* it means "Black has decisive advantage".
  
  > What does this notation mean?
  
  This notation is introduced to bypass the language barrier so any reader ( Japanese, English, Arabian, Marsian, it doesn't matter! ) can understand the comment behind the move. In the old days before this notation, commentaries were given in words, which required the reader to know commentator's native tongue or to find the translation of those commentaries. This way, when commentator writes *+-* behind the move, everybody ( Japanese, English, Arabian, Marsian, it doesn't matter! ) know what it means. It is shorter and cleaner this way.
  
  > Is it standard?
  
  Yes, it is. The symbols were invented by *Chess Informant* and accepted as a standard. You can find out more about chess notation [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess_annotation_symbols).
  
  > And why are the two games using it with the symbols in different order?
  
  Because the positions in those games are different -> in one White has the decisive advantage while in the other it is Black who should win.
  
  Hopefully this answer helped you. If you need further clarifications leave a comment. Best regards.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_7**: The chess informant link is broken - please remove or replace.  
  > **username_6**: @username_7 Thank you for pointing it out, removed the link since I could not find suitable replacement.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2015-03-30. Score: -11
  
  It means *checkmate*. For example, if black was to checkmate the king with his Queen, it would be written: *Q\_\_+* , the *\_* indicating which move black played with the queen in order to checkmate the opponent's (in this case white) king.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_4**: The answer given by username_6 is correct. `+-` and `-+` always refer to evaluations. Checkmate is indicated by `#`, though I have occasionally seen `++`.  
  > **username_0**: In the question I mention specific positions notated with the symbol in question (+- or -+) which are not checkmate. Also, Q___+ would indicate a queen move that gives check, not mate.  
  > **username_5**: + is often used for check  but not for checkmate.  +-  and -+  are often used to show that one side has an advantage.  
  
  ---
  
  