Do yourself a favor- look online before leaving the house at the MTA Subway advisory system just for weekends called The Weekender. (Also available as an app iPhone and Android app.)
I find it minimally less confusing than the signs posted in the subway, but then again, once you've swiped your card only to find out that your train isn't coming, it's too late.
Give The Weekender a try. Your weekend travel experience might be a LITTLE less awful.
