Best Chess Calculator: What You Didn’t Know Until Now (A Beginner's Guide)

This guide will unlock the hidden potential of online chess calculators, transforming you from a casual player relying on intuition to a strategic thinker armed with data-driven insights. While it won't magically make you a Grandmaster, understanding and utilizing these tools can significantly improve your game, allowing you to analyze positions deeper, avoid blunders, and discover winning opportunities you might otherwise miss.

This guide focuses on using online chess analysis tools, often referred to as "chess calculators," which leverage powerful chess engines like Stockfish to evaluate positions and suggest optimal moves. We'll be using lichess.org as our primary example due to its free and robust analysis features, but many concepts apply to other platforms like Chess.com and Arena.

Prerequisites:

  • Basic Chess Knowledge: You should understand the rules of chess, including piece movement, checkmate, and basic tactics like forks, pins, and skewers.

  • Internet Access: An active internet connection is required to access online chess analysis tools.

  • Web Browser: A modern web browser like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge.

    • Tools:

  • Lichess.org Account (Recommended): While you can use lichess.org without an account, creating one allows you to save your games and analysis for future reference. It's free and highly recommended.

  • PGN Notation (Optional, but Highly Recommended): Familiarity with Portable Game Notation (PGN) will be helpful for importing and exporting games. You don't need to memorize everything, but knowing the basics (e.g., Nf3 means Knight to f3, e4 means pawn to e4) will be beneficial.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Accessing the Analysis Board:

* Option 1: Analyze a Game in Progress (Lichess): If you're currently playing a game on Lichess, the analysis board is readily available. After each move (or even during your opponent's turn), look for the "Analysis Board" button (usually represented by a magnifying glass icon) located below the board. Clicking this will open a new tab with the current position ready for analysis.

* Option 2: Analyze a Finished Game (Lichess): After a game concludes, you'll see the option to "Request Analysis." Clicking this will automatically analyze the entire game and provide a move-by-move evaluation. You can then navigate to specific positions you want to examine more closely. Alternatively, you can click the "Analysis Board" button after the game is finished to analyze it manually.

* Option 3: Paste a PGN (Lichess or Other Platforms): If you have a game recorded in PGN format (e.g., from a chess book or another website), you can paste it into the analysis board. On Lichess, click the "Editor" button (looks like a chess board with an arrow) and then click "Load PGN." Paste the PGN code into the provided text box and click "Load." The game will be loaded onto the analysis board.

* Option 4: Manually Set Up a Position (Lichess or Other Platforms): If you want to analyze a specific position from a chess puzzle or a theoretical situation, click the "Editor" button and then click "Clear Board" to start with a blank slate. You can then drag and drop pieces from the side panels onto the desired squares. Make sure to set the correct side to move (indicated by a small white or black arrow) before starting the analysis.

2. Understanding the Analysis Board Interface:

* The Board: This is where the chess position is displayed. You can move pieces around to explore different variations.
* Move List: This shows the sequence of moves that have been played. You can click on any move in the list to return to that position.
* Engine Evaluation (Centipawn Loss): This is the most important part! The engine provides a numerical evaluation of the position. A positive number (e.g., +1.5) indicates White has an advantage, while a negative number (e.g., -0.8) indicates Black has an advantage. The unit is "centipawns," where 100 centipawns equal one pawn. A value around 0 indicates a relatively equal position.
* Principal Variation (PV): This is the engine's best line of play, showing the sequence of moves it considers most likely to lead to the best outcome for both sides.
* Analysis Settings (Lichess): Look for settings like "Depth" or "Threads." Increasing the depth (the number of moves the engine looks ahead) will provide more accurate analysis but will take longer. The default settings are usually sufficient for most purposes.
* Arrows and Circles: You can use these tools to draw arrows on the board to highlight important moves or squares and draw circles to emphasize key pieces.

3. Analyzing a Position:

* Let the Engine Run: Once you've set up your position, let the engine run for a few seconds (or even minutes for complex positions) to allow it to thoroughly evaluate the position. Watch the centipawn loss and the principal variation.
* Explore Variations: Don't just accept the engine's first suggestion. Try different moves, especially those you were considering during your game. See how the engine evaluates these alternative moves.
* Look for Tactical Opportunities: Use the engine to check for tactical possibilities like forks, pins, skewers, discovered attacks, and sacrifices. The engine is much better at finding these tactics than humans, especially in complex positions.
* Identify Key Squares and Weaknesses: The engine can help you identify key squares that are crucial for controlling the position and weaknesses in your opponent's position (e.g., isolated pawns, undefended pieces).
* Analyze Endgames: Endgames are often very precise, and even small mistakes can be decisive. Use the engine to analyze endgame positions to find the optimal moves and avoid common pitfalls.

4. Troubleshooting:

* Engine Not Running: Make sure the engine is enabled. On Lichess, look for a button labeled "Start Analysis" or a similar indicator.
* Slow Analysis: If the analysis is slow, try reducing the depth or the number of threads. Close other resource-intensive programs on your computer.
* Inconsistent Results: The engine's evaluation can fluctuate, especially in complex positions. Let it run for a longer period to get a more stable evaluation.
* Over-Reliance on the Engine: Don't become completely dependent on the engine. Use it as a tool to help you understand the position better, but always try to understand *why* the engine recommends a particular move. Blindly following the engine's suggestions without understanding the underlying principles won't improve your chess skills in the long run.

Summary:

Chess calculators, powered by powerful engines like Stockfish, are invaluable tools for improving your chess game. By learning how to access the analysis board, understand the engine's evaluations and principal variations, and explore alternative moves, you can gain a deeper understanding of chess positions and make more informed decisions during your games. Remember to use the engine as a learning tool and to always strive to understand the *why* behind its recommendations. With practice and consistent use, you'll be amazed at how much you can improve your chess skills using these powerful resources. Good luck, and happy analyzing!