1800: Chess Notation

2017-02-17T17:31:14Z

Aphekster: /* Explanation */ Changed instances of "referee" to "arbiter", the term used in the FIDE rules.

{{comic
| number = 1800
| date = February 17, 2017
| title = Chess Notation
| image = chess_notation.png
| titletext = I've decided to score all my conversations using chess win-loss notation. (??)
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Please change this comment when editing this page and not remove it too fast.}}
Chess players and critics use certain notations to write down chess games in a very short fashion (for example the Forsyth-Edwards Notation, which is both computer- and human-readable). In addition, ''chess annotation symbols'' like ! and !? help to comment certain moves in a similarly short fashion. That way it is possible to print or discuss a chess game (or a chess opening) in a limited space, for example in printed reference manuals.

A short synopsis about common chess annotation symbols:

!! - brilliant move: Very strong and counter-intuitive move. Sound sacrifices. 
! - good move: A surprisingly good move. 
!? - interesting move: Risky move, or worthy of attention and analysis. 
?! - dubious move: Designates a move that may be bad, but it is hard to explain why. 
? - mistake: Poor move that should not be played. 
?? - blunder: Exceptionally bad move, usually designates moves that lead to a lost position. 

A chess game can be won (and lost for the other party) or drawn. It should be noted that draws can either occur by agreement, or by stalemate. A stalemate is a situation where the opponent's king is not in check, but none of the opponent's pieces can be moved in a legal way. In a human conversation, what amounts to a draw, and what amounts to a stalemate?

If agreed draws should be allowed (and under which circumstances) is a matter of some discussion among chess players, thus adding another point to Randall's comic. For example, some tournament rules (e.g. the so-called "Sofia Rules") do not allow a draw to be offered directly - any player has first to announce the intention of drawing to the arbiter (referee), who then decides if the position should be played out further or not.

According to the FIDE chess rules, a draw can occur:
#by agreement
#by stalemate
#when the same position (with the same possible legal moves) occurs at least three times, with the same player having the same possibilities of moving his pieces. This draw must be requested by the player. According to the FIDE rule 9.6, the arbiter himself declares the game drawn when the same position occurs five times.
#when 50 moves have passed without a capture or a pawn move. Again, the draw occurs only upon request. Analogous to FIDE rule 9.6, the arbiter declares the game drawn when 75 moves have passed, again without a request by either player.
#when one of the players has used up his time, but his opponent has not enough material to mate
#when both players have used up their time, but the arbiter cannot determine who did so first
#upon request, when the opponent does not try to win any more, but attempts to win the game by timeout (another interesting point regarding this comic)

Cueball begins a conversation with [[White Hat]] with the declaration that he will be scoring his conversations using chess notation. In chess there are 3 possible results, a win, a loss, or a draw. Those are denoted respectively 1–0, 0–1, and ½–½. Apparently Cueball believes that since White Hat doesn't care, this is a drawn conversation. The double question marks at the end of the title text indicates the move was a 'blunder'.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Layout, don't remove this tag until this is really complete.}}
Cueball: "I've decided to score all my conversations using chess win-loss notation."

White Hat: "I don't know or care what that means."

Cueball: "Fine."

White Hat: "Fine."

[Caption below drawing:] "½–½"

{{comic discussion}}

1401: New

2016-10-04T16:12:50Z

Aphekster: /* Explanation */ Removed the word "literal" :)

{{comic
| number = 1401
| date = July 30, 2014
| title = New
| image = new.png
| titletext = The nice thing about headcannnons is that it's really easy to get other people to believe in them.
}}

==Explanation==
This strip uses a play on the {{w|homophone|homophonic}} relationship between "{{w|Canon_(fiction)|canon}}", the literary term, and "{{w|cannon}}", a projectile weapon. The word headcannon is a compound of "head" and "cannon".

In this strip, [[Black Hat]] tells [[Cueball]] that he has a "new headcannon". [[Cueball]], thinking Black Hat means "headcanon" (an unjustified belief or theory about a fictional universe), inquires what Black Hat's new idea is. Instead of the expected idea or theory, Black Hat removes his hat to reveal a tiny cannon on his head which blows away Cueball and his computer desk.

While headcanon may often be ignored or dismissed as a personal theory, a headcannon would be far harder to ignore, as it is a physical object which has a notable (and in this case violent) impact on the real world.

In the title text Randall makes the spellings of these two words indistinguishable by using three consecutive "n"s to spell "headcannnon". Therefore, the title text is deliberately vague. It could be interpreted that it is easy to convince people that you have a cannon on your head, that it is easy to make people believe in a self invented headcanons, or both. Since you are choosing your own interpretation of this title text, the joke is that you are creating your own headcanon.

This comic also shows Cueball being once again distracted from his work in a manner similar to [[1388: Subduction License]].

===Canon===
In terms of a given literary series, "''{{w|Canon_(fiction)|canon}}''" describes a set of works that are collectively recognized by the community as having authenticity. Generally, works created or endorsed by the original author(s) are considered canonical. Not all original content is considered canon and not all canon is original content. Sometimes creators will rewrite the canon (called a {{w|retcon}}) and make things that were previously canonical non-canonical. For example, the origins of a character may be rewritten, thus invalidating the portions of the works that speak to the old origins. Other times creators will incorporate non-original content and therefore incorporate the canon of these borrowed works.

===Headcanon===
A ''headcanon'' as the name implies is a form of canon that only exists in one's mind. More specifically, a headcanon is created when a consumer watching or reading the material develops their own ideas about a fictional universe that are not actually part of the canon, perhaps developing their own backstories or experiences for characters. Some frequent examples of headcanon include relationships between characters, abilities, events following the conclusion of the work, etc. which the author or creator has not explained or included. For example, a consumer may "read between the lines" and assume that there was a previous romantic relationship between two characters where no conclusive evidence actually exists of one. Some fans who come up with particularly interesting or convincing headcanons may decide to share them with others in hopes that their idea spreads.

==Transcript==
:[Black Hat walks in.]
:Black Hat: New headcannon:

:[Cueball is sitting at his desk, using his computer.]
:Cueball: Yeah?

:[Black Hat lifts his hat, revealing his "headcannon": a tiny cannon on the top of his head. The headcannon fires and blows up Cueball's desk, the explosion throwing Cueball backwards.]
:Headcannon: '''BOOM'''
:Cueball: Augh!

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]
[[Category:Language]]
[[Category:Portmanteau]]
[[Category:Computers]]

explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

1800: Chess Notation

1401: New