In short: When one side stands better. The advantage can be material, such as an extra pawn, or positional, such as better pieces or fewer weaknesses.
The player with the advantage stands better, but that can mean many different things. The simplest is to count material: an extra pawn is a material advantage. Everything else is called a positional advantage, and it lies in how the pieces and pawns stand.
Advantages that last and advantages that fade
Some positional advantages are lasting. If your opponent has more pawn islands, an isolated pawn or a bad bishop, the weakness stays for a long time, perhaps the whole game. Others are temporary: better developed pieces, an attack or the initiative. They must be used while they last, or the opponent catches up.
That is why strong players often trade one advantage for another. An attack that doesn't lead to mate can still win a pawn, and an extra pawn lasts.
Less material, but a better position
A player who has given up material can still stand better, if what they got back is worth more. That is called compensation, and it is the whole idea behind a gambit.
The signs in annotations
In chess books and annotations the advantage is often shown with signs after a move or a position.
| Sign | Meaning |
|---|---|
| = | equal chances |
| ⩲ or +/= | White is slightly better |
| ± or +/− | White is clearly better |
| +− | White has a winning advantage |
| ⩱ or =/+ | Black is slightly better |
| ∓ or −/+ | Black is clearly better |
| −+ | Black has a winning advantage |
Signs like !, ? and !? are about the move itself instead. They are explained under blunder.
Frequently asked questions
What do ± and +− mean?
They are used in annotations. = means equal chances, +/= that White is slightly better, ± that White is clearly better and +− that White has a winning advantage. For Black the signs are turned around: =/+, −/+ and −+.
Can you have the advantage with less material?
Yes. A player who has sacrificed a pawn can stand better if the development or the attack is worth more. That is called compensation.
Updated November 14, 2026