dont kill me for asking :P (ellipse)

what on earth does it mean when it shows "..." in chess notation? i can not for the life of me understand the definition when i read it online

It usually means that it is a move by the black player without giving white's move.

2. ... Qe7

might be the notation that we see if we're looking at the position after white moved 2. Bd3.

so you just have to assume where they moved?

of course only assume when you arent looking at the board

It's not so much of an assumption.  It could be a well known position (saying something like "the ... Bf5 line of the Omni Defense"), it might be that the author is pointing out a specific position where it happens to be black's move, or it could be that the author decided that a convenient place to put a diagram while notating a (whole) game was after white's move at some point.

i am feeling so discouraged right now because i still have absolutely no clue what you are talking about :(

i know chess notation well already, except the stupid ellipse, it still is not making a bit of sense to me

Well, I was just making up the "Omni Defense," but I'm sure there's similar uses of the ellipsis out there.

Perhaps if you'd provide a specific example of where it is used but you don't understand, it'd help to guide any explanations.

ok i am going to show you what it looks like in this book i am reading and how i dont understand

in column 1, and in other areas, they have "..." as a move, and i dont understand what that means

Here is an example from this article at the beginning.

http://www.chess.com/article/view/everyone-of-every-rating-blunders

1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.Nf3 d6 5.d4 cxd4 6.Qxd4 e6 7.Nbd2 Nc6 8.Bb5 Bd7 9.Bxc6 Bxc6 10.Nc4 dxe5 11.Nfxe5

11…f6?! this indicitate is black to move, so the ... take place of the 'white' move.  

This move creates various weaknesses in black's camp. Instead, 11...Bb5 gives Black an excellent position. 

12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.0-0

im sorry; im still a noob to chess, maybe i need some more education in chess notation as a whole

ok with Opening book type. you know you can have 1.e4 e5 or 1.e4 e6 or 1.e4 c5 and 1.e4 d5 etc. in the book it come out like this....

1.e4  e4
1....  e6
1.... c5
1...  d5 etc. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algebraic_notation_(chess)

see near bottom of page.

Alright, well that picture is a little hard to see, but I'll do my best to explain things.

For the place where there are lots of columns, that is giving a variation tree.

The moves for the first pair of rows are 2. d4 ed 3. Qxd4 Nc6 4. Qe3 Nf6 and so on.

The moves for the second pair of rows are 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d4 ed and so on.

The moves for the third pair of rows are 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Nc6.

Since the second and third pair of rows have the same second move, the author has given the ellipsis marks to indicate that.  In this sense, the ellipses means "repeat the above move."

When ellipses are used in the text, it is used much as I and kco above have mentioned.  We are leaving out white's move to look at a black move, for example "6. Bd5 Bd4 (6... Nf6" means the same as "6. Bd5 Bd4 (6. Bd5 Nf6"

so basically it just stands for "use previous move, in other set up"?

like if it was

1. e4 e5

2. ... Nf3

? and the "..." would be what exactly?

Moves may be interspersed with commentary. When the score resumes with a Black move, an ellipsis (...) fills the position of the White move, for example:

1. e4 e5

2. Nf3

White attacks the black e-pawn.

2... Nc6

Black defends and develops simultaneously.

3. Bb5

White inducts the Spanish Torture.

3... a6

Black elects Morphy's Defence.

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Chess/Opening_theory_table

Arrangement

Chess opening theory tables are commonly published in opening books with annotations by experienced chess players. These tables are typically arranged in a compact manner to allow experienced players to see variations from a position quickly. Usually, the table indicates that either White or Black has equal, slightly better, or better chances at the end of the variation. Sometimes, this information is distilled down to mere symbols or the percentage of games (usually tournament games) where White won – no information is usually given on what the assessment is based on or how to proceed in the game.

^[1]==Notation== Typically, each table has a heading indicating the moves required to reach the position for which the table provides an analysis. The first row provides the move numbers with subsequent row representing different variations. White half-moves are shown above black half-moves. Ellipses (...) represent moves that, for the variation, are identical to the variation above. Bold type indicates that another variation is considered elsewhere – usually in another table. A dash (-) indicates that the variation transposes to a variation elsewhere. Transpositions are common in chess – a given position can often be reached by different move orders – even move orders with more or fewer moves.

It is common to add notes regarding whether a certain variation is considered better for White or for Black. This is done at the end (i.e. to the right) of every variation, using shorthand notationregarding specific positions. For instance, the remark += (or +/=) indicates that White has a slight advantage. If reversed (=+ or =/+) this would be true for Black instead.

[edit]Example theory table

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5

im sorry guys, i am a lost cause

i still do not understand what it means

maybe saying it in leymanns terms? or are you already doing so? :(

If you know.

huh?

Never mind.

... means that the move that follows is black's move.

In quoting ... means that something is ommited there someone. For example: "I prefer waffles to apples, potatoes, and pancakes," can be quoted as "I prefer waffles to... pancakes," if the purpose of quoting them is to show that they prefer waffles to pancakes and wish to not include irrelevent stuff.

Similarly in chess notation 12. Be4 Ra7 can be shortened to 12... Ra7 if you have already stated white's move or it is referring to a diagram where it is black to move.

mrguy888 wrote:

bjapan96 wrote:

mrguy888 wrote:

If you know.

huh?

Never mind.

... means that the move that follows is black's move.

In quoting ... means that something is ommited there someone. For example: "I prefer waffles to apples, potatoes, and pancakes," can be quoted as "I prefer waffles to... pancakes," if the purpose of quoting them is to show that they prefer waffles to pancakes and wish to not include irrelevent stuff.

Similarly in chess notation 12. Be4 Ra7 can be shortened to 12... Ra7 if you have already stated white's move or it is referring to a diagram where it is black to move.

that actually makes total sense, however, how do i know where to move white?