maro's Chess Page
maro's Home PageThe following tag names and their associated semantics are recommended for use for information not contained in the Seven Tag Roster.
Note that if there is more than one player field in an instance of a player (White or Black) tag, then there will be corresponding multiple fields in any of the following tags. For example, if the White tag has the three field value "Jones:Smith:Zacharias" (a consultation game), then the WhiteTitle tag could have a value of "IM:-:GM" if Jones was an International Master, Smith was untitled, and Zacharias was a Grandmaster.
These use string values such as "FM", "IM", and "GM"; these tags are used only for the standard abbreviations for FIDE titles. A value of "-" is used for an untitled player.
These tags use integer values; these are used for FIDE Elo ratings. A value of "-" is used for an unrated player.
These tags use integer values; these are used for USCF (United States Chess Federation) ratings. Similar tag names can be constructed for other rating agencies.
These tags use string values; these are the e-mail or network addresses of the players. A value of "-" is used for a player without an electronic address.
These tags use string values; these describe the player types. The value "human" should be used for a person while the value "program" should be used for algorithmic (computer) players.
The following tags are used for providing additional information about the event.
This uses a date value, similar to the Date tag field, that gives the starting date of the Event.
This uses a string value giving the name of the sponsor of the event.
This uses a string; this is used for the playing section of a tournament (e.g., "Open" or "Reserve").
This uses a string; this is used for the stage of a multistage event (e.g., "Preliminary" or "Semifinal").
This uses an integer; this identifies the board number in a team event and also in a simultaneous exhibition.
The following tag pairs are used for traditional opening names. The associated tag values will vary according to the local language in use.
This uses a string; this is used for the traditional opening name. This will vary by locale. This tag pair is associated with the use of the EPD opcode "v0" described in a later section of this document.
This uses a string; this is used to further refine the Opening tag. This will vary by locale. This tag pair is associated with the use of the EPD opcode "v1" described in a later section of this document.
This uses a string; this is used to further refine the Variation tag. This will vary by locale. This tag pair is associated with the use of the EPD opcode "v2" described in a later section of this document.
The following tag pairs are used for representing opening identification according to various third party vendors and organizations. References to these organizations does not imply any endorsement of them or any endorsement by them.
This uses a string of either the form "XDD" or the form "XDD/DD" where the "X" is a letter from "A" to "E" and the "D" positions are digits; this is used for an opening designation from the five volume _Encyclopedia of Chess Openings_. This tag pair is associated with the use of the EPD opcode "eco" described in a later section of this document.
This uses a string; this is used for an opening designation from the _New in Chess_ database. This tag pair is associated with the use of the EPD opcode "nic" described in a later section of this document.
The following tags assist with further refinement of the time and data information associated with a game.
This uses a time-of-day value in the form "HH:MM:SS"; similar to the Date tag except that it denotes the local clock time (hours, minutes, and seconds) of the start of the game. Note that colons, not periods, are used for field separators for the Time tag value. The value is taken from the local time corresponding to the location given in the Site tag pair.
This tag is similar to the Time tag except that the time is given according to the Universal Coordinated Time standard.
This tag is similar to the Date tag except that the date is given according to the Universal Coordinated Time standard.
The follwing tag is used to help describe the time control used with the game.
This uses a list of one or more time control fields. Each field contains a descriptor for each time control period; if more than one descriptor is present then they are separated by the colon character (":"). The descriptors appear in the order in which they are used in the game. The last field appearing is considered to be implicitly repeated for further control periods as needed.
There are six kinds of TimeControl fields.
The first kind is a single question mark ("?") which means that the time control mode is unknown. When used, it is usually the only descriptor present.
The second kind is a single hyphen ("-") which means that there was no time control mode in use. When used, it is usually the only descriptor present.
The third Time control field kind is formed as two positive integers separated by a solidus ("/") character. The first integer is the number of moves in the period and the second is the number of seconds in the period. Thus, a time control period of 40 moves in 2 1/2 hours would be represented as "40/9000".
The fourth TimeControl field kind is used for a "sudden death" control period. It should only be used for the last descriptor in a TimeControl tag value. It is sometimes the only descriptor present. The format consists of a single integer that gives the number of seconds in the period. Thus, a blitz game would be represented with a TimeControl tag value of "300".
The fifth TimeControl field kind is used for an "incremental" control period. It should only be used for the last descriptor in a TimeControl tag value and is usually the only descriptor in the value. The format consists of two positive integers separated by a plus sign ("+") character. The first integer gives the minimum number of seconds allocated for the period and the second integer gives the number of extra seconds added after each move is made. So, an incremental time control of 90 minutes plus one extra minute per move would be given by "4500+60" in the TimeControl tag value.
The sixth TimeControl field kind is used for a "sandclock" or "hourglass" control period. It should only be used for the last descriptor in a TimeControl tag value and is usually the only descriptor in the value. The format consists of an asterisk ("*") immediately followed by a positive integer. The integer gives the total number of seconds in the sandclock period. The time control is implemented as if a sandclock were set at the start of the period with an equal amount of sand in each of the two chambers and the players invert the sandclock after each move with a time forfeit indicated by an empty upper chamber. Electronic implementation of a physical sandclock may be used. An example sandclock specification for a common three minute egg timer sandclock would have a tag value of "*180".
Additional TimeControl field kinds will be defined as necessary.
There are two tags defined for assistance with describing games that did not start from the usual initial array.
This tag takes an integer that denotes the "set-up" status of the game. A value of "0" indicates that the game has started from the usual initial array. A value of "1" indicates that the game started from a set-up position; this position is given in the "FEN" tag pair. This tag must appear for a game starting with a set-up position. If it appears with a tag value of "1", a FEN tag pair must also appear.
This tag uses a string that gives the Forsyth-Edwards Notation for the starting position used in the game. FEN is described in a later section of this document. If a SetUp tag appears with a tag value of "1", the FEN tag pair is also required.
There is a single tag that discusses the conclusion of the game.
This takes a string that describes the reason for the conclusion of the game. While the Result tag gives the result of the game, it does not provide any extra information and so the Termination tag is defined for this purpose.
Strings that may appear as Termination tag values:
* "abandoned": abandoned game.
* "adjudication": result due to third party adjudication process.
* "death": losing player called to greater things, one hopes.
* "emergency": game concluded due to unforeseen circumstances.
* "normal": game terminated in a normal fashion.
* "rules infraction": administrative forfeit due to losing player's failure to observe either the Laws of Chess or the event regulations.
* "time forfeit": loss due to losing player's failure to meet time control requirements.
* "unterminated": game not terminated.
These are tags that can be briefly described and that doon't fit well inother sections.
This tag uses a name or names in the format of the player name tags; this identifies the annotator or annotators of the game.
This uses a string that gives the playing mode of the game. Examples: "OTB" (over the board), "PM" (paper mail), "EM" (electronic mail), "ICS" (Internet Chess Server), and "TC" (general telecommunication).
This tag takes a single integer that gives the number of ply (moves) in the game.
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