Tips from the Experts on Analyzing with an Engine

Chess Engine’s Evaluations by WGM Natalia Pogonina

“…it’s very easy to lose one’s own tactical skill if one starts following the computer lines without thinking for oneself. Secondly, quite a few players, even very strong ones, start “worshipping” engines and religiously trusting them. However, there are still blank spots in the evaluation mechanisms of the programs, so even at a large depth the first line of a program is not necessarily the best move.”  Read more…

Chess Game Analysis Using ChessBase Engines by Steve Lopez

“After I purchased a PC and some chess software, and began using them to analyze my games, I learned a lot about my own deficiencies as a player. I set out to correct these problems and my results at the board improved dramatically.” Read the whole 3-part series.

Using Multiple Chess Programs to Analyze a Game by Steve Lopez

“Why would you want to have more than one chess engine analyze a game? Chess engines evaluate positions mathematically using an algorithm, a "number crunching" formula, and different programmers will use different values in their engines' algorithms. For example, one programmer might value space more highly than will another programmer while, conversely, that second programmer might assign a higher value to a good pawn structure. Different chess engines will thus approach the game in different ways. All will offer high quality analysis, but it might very well be different analysis from engine to engine for a given position. Different analysis means different ideas; this gives you, the player, more information to consider.”  Read more…