What is the difference between dubious, busted, and refuted?

Title says it all. What is the difference?

IMO Dubious... means the line(s) is/are suspect. e.g. Theory says the line holds it's own, but the person doing the analysis sees issues with the line(s) To me, dubious is a mark down from unclear... Unclear to me equates to equals chances for both side, or lots of possible ideas in the position.

Busted... IMO .. the line is broke, the position isn't doing what it once was doing ... e.g giving an initiative etc usually whatever is busted is complex.. and possibly can be repaired e.g. Grand Pri attack in the 1980s

Refuted .. solid concrete line shutting down the opening or variation for good.

just my 2 cents

IMHO:

Dubious = If you play it you’re at a disadvantage … but there’s no obvious way for your opponent to immediately win.

Busted and Refuted are synonymous and = no matter what you do, if your opponent plays correctly, they gain a crushing advantage.

Dubious: Usually referring to lines, variations, or openings in which the user is clearly worse, but not fully losing. A few examples would be the Owen’s, Alekhine’s, KID, Dutch, Anglo-Scandinavian, Bird’s, and King’s Gambit.

Busted: Usually referring to gambit lines in which the material sacrificed renders the user fully lost if one’s opponent knows the correct counterplay and can accurately play the resultant winning middlegame and/or endgame. Examples would be the Englund Gambit, Traxler Countergambit, Muzio Double Gambit, et cetera.

Refuted: usually referring to lines or variations which have been held in high regard for decades only to be… well… refuted by further analysis. Examples include that one Petrov line Fischer refuted with Bh6!!, the entirety of the King’s Gambit, the Latvian Gambit, et cetera.

The title certainly don't "say it all". What exactly are you talking about? Probably different people use these term differently, and almost certainly "busted" and refuted" are synonyms.

Hi

Dubious is where there has not been a proven reputation, but something about the position smells and it is doubtful that your move works.

Busted and Refuted are the same thing. It's like saying you are rich vs wealthy, or a lady vs a gal, or overweight vs fat.

Thank you guys! I now understand.