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What are Engines Good For?

Original post by Standard member Rookpawn59 on 13 Mar '15 02:59
  1. Standard member Rookpawn59
    13 Mar '15 02:59
    Engines use is being trashed pretty good in another forum so how about a change of course. Whats good about an engine and how has it improved your chess?
  2. Subscriber 64squaresofpain
    The drunk knight
    13 Mar '15 03:46
    I purely use mine as a post-game analysis tool.
    If I have played a game which I felt could have (or should have) gone a different way,
    I will run the game through Fritz and see where the weak moves were
    and see if there were any missed tactics... some of which can be very revealing!
    For example, I recently missed a smothered mate (in two!) but I wouldn't have known if I didn't run the analysis.

    I often use Fritz to help for when I annotate games, also.
    It helps me remember certain lines in the opening, some of which have become pet lines,
    and it has definitely helped improve my ability to spot tactical shots, both for myself and for my opponent.

    I feel as though that if I find something that can be instructive in any way, it is worth annotating
    and perhaps even sharing on the forum so that others may learn... or laugh at, as the case may be.

    Below is an example... the game containing the missed legacy 🙁
    I play Black.

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  3. Subscriber BigDoggProblem
    The Advanced Mind
    13 Mar '15 06:11
    Engines have been great help to composers of chess problems. They weed out 'cooks', or unwanted solutions.
  4. Standard member Rookpawn59
    13 Mar '15 10:42
    Originally posted by 64squaresofpain
    [b]I purely use mine as a post-game analysis tool.
    This is one of the best ways to use it. I also like to take the tactics or positions I find and put them in a training program I have.
  5. Standard member Sirdubalot
    13 Mar '15 11:55
    This would be handy for analysis, can such a tool be downloaded or do you have to purchase.

    Many thanks.

    Willy............
  6. Subscriber Ponderable
    chemist
    13 Mar '15 12:37
    Originally posted by Sirdubalot
    This would be handy for analysis, can such a tool be downloaded or do you have to purchase.

    Many thanks.

    Willy............
    You can download some free machines. If you look up Arena (which is the interface) they include some engines.
  7. Standard member Data Fly
    13 Mar '15 13:51
    If chess is your thing, then why not spend a little bit of money and buy a program with lots of bells and whistles, e.g. Fritz? Chess is not an expensive hobby and investing in a commercial program to analyse your games must be worth it.
  8. Standard member Rookpawn59
    13 Mar '15 13:53
    Originally posted by Sirdubalot
    This would be handy for analysis, can such a tool be downloaded or do you have to purchase.

    Many thanks.

    Willy............
    I really like Chess Position Trainer. It's a great program. The closest program to it that I know it is the newer Bookup program thats currently being upgraded.
  9. Standard member bikingviking
    13 Mar '15 14:16
    Originally posted by Rookpawn59
    I really like Chess Position Trainer. It's a great program. The closest program to it that I know it is the newer Bookup program thats currently being upgraded.
    www.chesspositiontrainer.com

    www.bookup.com
  10. Standard member DeepThought
    Losing the Thread
    13 Mar '15 20:19
    Originally posted by Data Fly
    If chess is your thing, then why not spend a little bit of money and buy a program with lots of bells and whistles, e.g. Fritz? Chess is not an expensive hobby and investing in a commercial program to analyse your games must be worth it.
    The thing is that Crafty + Scid do all the things I want them to so a commercial engine database combination is just not worth it. I give my games to Crafty to chew over once I've finished them but it's suggested lines are often obscure. I doubt a commercial machine is going to give me anything more or produce suggested lines of play that are any less incomprehensible, so I doubt there's much point.
  11. Standard member Sirdubalot
    14 Mar '15 08:10
    I don't seem to be able to download this on my ipad, think its possibly needs a PC but I'm not great when it comes to IT.

    Willy..........
  12. Standard member robbie carrobie
    14 Mar '15 09:23 / 2 edits
    Here is a position from a recent game I finished, see if you can find the killer move. I didn't see it in the game but it became apparent after post game computer analysis.




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  13. Standard member Sirdubalot
    14 Mar '15 12:31 / 1 edit
    Originally posted by robbie carrobie
    Here is a position from a recent game I finished, see if you can find the killer move. I didn't see it in the game but it became apparent after post game computer analysis.

    [fen]r3qrk1/pp1b4/2p1p2p/3pBp2/2PPn3/P3PR2/1PQ1B1PP/R5K1 w KQkq - 0 1[/fen]


    [pgn]

    [FEN "r3qrk1/pp1b4/2p1p2p/3pBp2/2PPn3/P3PR2/1PQ1B1PP/R5K1 w KQkq - 0 1"]

    1.Qxe4 ...[text shortened]... 8 4.Rxd7+ Kg8 5.Rg7+ Kh8 6.Rxb7+ Kg8 7.Rg7+ Kh8 8.Rxa7+ Kg8 9.Rg7+ Kh8 10.Re7+ Kg8 1-0

    [/pgn]
    May I ask you to confirm that Qxe4 is the killer move, Im struggling to understand as what would of happened if black had played dxe4 after Qxe4.

    This is where I struggle in chess as good move depend on what your opponent does next.

    Many thanks.

    Willy.........
  14. Standard member Stansi
    14 Mar '15 12:41 / 1 edit
    Originally posted by Sirdubalot
    Im struggling to understand as what would of happened if black had played dxe4 after Qxe4.
    The purpose of Qxe4 is to allow White to play Rg3+ without the rook being captured. It doesn't really matter which way Black captures the queen.
  15. Standard member Sirdubalot
    14 Mar '15 12:49
    Originally posted by Stansi
    The purpose of Qxe4 is to allow White to play Rxg3+ without the rook being captured. It doesn't really matter which way Black captures the queen.
    Thank you I see it now, sorry for the stupid question.
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