Chess annotations use a standardized set of symbols: ! (good move), !! (brilliant move), ? (mistake), ?? (blunder), !? (interesting move), ?! (dubious move), +/- (White is better), -/+ (Black is better), = (equal), and various others. These symbols provide quick visual assessments of move quality and position evaluation.
Annotated games are available in chess books, magazines, databases, and online platforms. The most instructive annotations combine concrete analysis (specific move sequences) with verbal explanations of the strategic ideas, plans, and thought processes behind the moves. Great annotators like Kasparov, Dvoretsky, and Nunn are renowned for the quality of their instructive commentary.
Self-annotation — analyzing your own games by adding notes and variations — is one of the most effective study methods. After playing a game, review it without an engine first, noting what you were thinking at each critical moment. Then check your analysis with an engine to identify what you missed. This process builds critical thinking skills and pattern recognition.