Think Like a Chess Computer

Have you ever ever questioned how a chess pc or chess engine thinks? How do they discover the fitting transfer so quick? Is it attainable for me to assume like that too? In layman’s phrases, no it isn’t. A chess engine is a quantity cruncher. The chess engine takes predetermined values given to sure positional and materials options and provides them up in a method that provides it a numerical evaluation of the place that’s normally fairly correct. There are some main weaknesses that a chess pc has nonetheless that makes it problematic to evaluate sure positions. One is when there’s a static benefit that may be obtained akin to a doubled pawn. If the pc calculates that it can’t win that pawn in an x variety of strikes it would normally scrap that variation. One other weak point is the so-called Horizon Impact. That is the limitation of the pc’s skill to calculate variations x variety of strikes forward. Since a pc “is aware of” nothing, all it could actually do to search for the very best transfer is to attempt each attainable mixture of strikes. There may be a drawback with this methodology nonetheless which is the Horizon Impact. For instance, say there are 20 completely different strikes that I could make after which there are 20 strikes that my opponent could make in response to every a type of strikes. Basic math tells you that there are 400 completely different mixtures. Now a robust participant will eradicate virtually all of these strikes from the start as a result of they know them to be dangerous. A pc can’t do that; it has to calculate all of the attainable variations to make a appropriate evaluation. 400 transfer mixtures is not any drawback for a pc however when it goes 7 or 8 strikes into a line there shall be trillions upon trillions of various transfer mixtures.

So it’s possible you’ll be saying to your self know that it isn’t attainable to assume like a pc does and you’re proper. It’s, nonetheless, attainable to look over your strikes in a method that your opponent will really feel like they’re going through a pc! There may be a easy method to do that.

1. Ask your self why your opponent made that transfer.

-What are his threats?

-What’s he planning?

2. Now ask your self, “What can I do in response to his transfer?”

-Can I make any threats of my very own?

-Did he blunder?

-Did he create any weaknesses for me to use?

3. Is my transfer tactically secure?

-Undergo the risk ranges

• Checks

• Checkmates

• Captures

• Transfer that threatens to seize

• Positional threats

By utilizing this methodology appropriately and earlier than each transfer you’ll make far fewer errors and ultimately you’ll do these steps subconsciously.