Hi all,
I know that engines will tell you the next move to make, which is a distinct no-no.
What I'm wondering is, do these programs actually have any ability to explain WHY a move is a good or bad one? I'm thinking that some sort of computer program to analyse my completed games would be a useful way to improve at this point. My rating has more or less stabilised and I'm no longer continuing to improve much.
When I post games in this forum I often get useful comments, but there's no way I can post hundreds of games here! I'm hoping that a decent computer program could at least partly achieve the same thing.
Oh, and if there are any free/demo programs on the Web that could give me a taste of what analysis is possible, point me to them please.
Originally posted by orfeoFritz--the best--is terribly limited in this regard. It offers minimal verbal explanation, including identification of key squares and tactical motifs.
Hi all,
I know that engines will tell you the next move to make, which is a distinct no-no.
What I'm wondering is, do these programs actually have any ability to explain WHY a move is a good or bad one? I'm thinking that some sort of computer program to analyse my completed games would be a useful way to improve at this point. My rating has more or l ...[text shortened]... ams on the Web that could give me a taste of what analysis is possible, point me to them please.
You can look at http://www.angelfire.com/poetry/wulebgr/nemesio.htm if you would like to see the sort of output that you will get from Fritz and friends (I used Hiarcs, but the output looks the same).
If it is a bad move Fritz will show you the variation (in standard notation) for what it thinks should follow, given best play, from the position created by the 'bad' move.
Chessmaster will say something like, "Uh oh, that leads to..." and then illustrate what is likely to follow.
In either case it should become painfully obvious after playing out the game continuation as to why the chess engine considered the move to be a blunder.
But, if you are just looking at a position and it is evaluated as being half a pawn better for black (for example), knowing why that is the case is something I have not figured out.
Originally posted by tippedkingMany positional considerations are present in an engine's evaluation of a position. Rooks on open files, pawn structure, king safety, space advantage. If an engine tells you a move is bad but it doesn't lose material then it is reducing positional value.
If it is a bad move Fritz will show you the variation (in standard notation) for what it thinks should follow, given best play, from the position created by the 'bad' move.
Chessmaster will say something like, "Uh oh, that leads to..." and then illustrate what is likely to follow.
In either case it should become painfully obvious after playing o ...[text shortened]... etter for black (for example), knowing why that is the case is something I have not figured out.
A positional advantage can quickly become a material one but engines often can't see when it will happen.