This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon: When annotating chess games, emphasis can be placed on specific moves in the same way emphasis is placed on any written word: by using a symbol.
For example, the question mark serves as the universal mark of the blunder, and it shouldn’t offer much confusion when used. Describing a move as “Nb6?” directly translates, in any language, to “the knight moved there?” (literal); or “What was he thinking?” (suggestive); or simply “Duh?” (slang).
The exclamation point, however, is the sought-after symbol of description. The exclamation point in chess represents brilliancy; it drops jaws. It’s a move that flashes some defining example of skill and, often, is accompanied with some element of surprise. If you need it: a visual clue of an exclamation point during a live game is any move that literally rocks an opposing player back into their seat.
Around the Chess Club, the word exclam! has evolved as a way of verbalizing these profound moments. The expression is regularly used by a player who has walked us through some recent battle epic, slowly building toward climax through the first 25 moves, and finally culminating with one triumphant and fatal blow to his opponent’s army. Punch lines such as these can be simply described with exclam!, and the audience shall agree, in applause.
Consider it the chess version of “Presto!” and often interpreted just as magical. In fact, if used correctly during a live game, I consider it completely appropriate to proclaim “exclam!” while flicking your palms upward in magician theatrics: I have nothing up my sleeves, except for this fancy knight fork. Exclam!
Our city received an exclamation point last week.
A bipartisan group of Missouri members of Congress -- including U.S. Reps. William Lacy Clay, Anne Wagner and Blaine Luetkemeyer, along with Sens. Claire McCaskill and Roy Blunt -- introduced resolutions recognizing St. Louis as the Chess Capital of the United States. Saint Louis Chess Club Resident Grandmaster Yasser Seirawan was in Washington to offer his endorsement, as were several other superstars in the sport: WGM Jennifer Shahade, IM Irina Krush, IM Kayden Troff (U14 World Youth Champion), IM-elect Samuel Sevian (youngest National Master in history at age 9) and 15-year-old up-and-comer WFM Sarah Chiang. They came from all corners of the nation to agree.
What I love about the exclamation point in chess is the obviousness of it. Immediately perfect. Without refutation. And such a move was clear on Capitol Hill last week, even if a little ironic. At a time when our leaders have differing opinions on just about everything, there they were in one big, bipartisan group hug – agreeing over a game that might be the very definition of You-versus-Me.
Even the legislative rider on the resolution, which often come slick with political slime, was pure with intention: recognizing the success of chess after-school programs and the benefit for students, including fostering problem-solving skills and improving math and reading test scores.
For anyone paying attention, anyone watching the pieces align around St. Louis over the past couple years, a move like this comes as no surprise. The construction of the most glamorous Chess Club in the nation, the relocation of the World Chess Hall of Fame and the erection of the Guiness Book of World Record’s Largest Chess Piece – all focused in the Central West End – come together to create your standard example of minor pieces coordinating to capture a major one.
And what a capture, indeed: St. Louis is the new home to U.S. chess. Exclam!
Brian Jerauld teaches kids how to play chess and will help Beacon readers keep up with what's happening in the sport, especially with the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis.