The Dark Side of Chess Engines: Don't let it control you!

Introduction:

Chess engines have revolutionised how players analyse games, offering powerful insights that were unimaginable not so long ago. With just a few clicks, you can see the best moves, spot blunders, and explore complicated variations. It’s no wonder that engines like Stockfish have become a staple in every chess player’s toolkit.

But here’s the catch, having access to a super-strong engine doesn’t automatically make you a better player. In fact, for many club players, relying too heavily on an engine can hinder improvement rather than help it. Why? Because engines don’t explain why a move is good; they just show the best moves. Without understanding the reasoning behind those moves, players often miss out on valuable learning opportunities.

In this blog, we’ll explore why blindly trusting engines can be counterproductive and how you can use them as a tool rather than a crutch. By the end, you’ll know how to approach engine analysis more thoughtfully, and most importantly, how to make sure you stay in charge of your learning process. Remember, you are the master of the engine, not the other way around.

Why Relying Too Much on Chess Engines Can Be Harmful:

Chess engines are incredible tools, capable of calculating millions of positions per second and revealing moves that even top Grandmasters might overlook. But like any powerful tool, they must be used wisely. Without the right approach, engines can do more harm than good for your development. Let’s dive into the most common pitfalls and why they can hinder your progress:

1. Blindly Trusting the Engine’s Top Moves

It’s easy to turn on the engine and follow whatever move it suggests. But the problem is, if you don’t understand why the move is good, you’re missing out on valuable learning. The goal isn’t just to play the best moves, it’s to understand them.

Example: The engine suggests moving your bishop back instead of trading pieces. Without thinking about it, you make the move. But what did you learn? If you don’t take a moment to figure out why retreating was better, you won’t improve your decision-making.

Grandmaster Tip: After your game, take a quick look at the key moments where you made important decisions. Pause for just a couple of minutes before checking the engine and ask yourself: What was I trying to do? What could I have done better? Then use the engine to see what you missed. This small step makes a big difference and takes very little time.

2. Getting Obsessed with Evaluation Numbers

After finishing a game, it’s natural to check the engine’s evaluation to see how you did. But focusing too much on those numbers, like +0.8 or -1.2, can be distracting and sometimes misleading. Small changes in evaluation aren’t always a big deal, and stressing over them can take the fun out of reviewing your games.

Example: You check the engine after your game and see that one of your moves dropped the evaluation from +0.5 to +0.3. It might seem like you made a big mistake, but the position is still good for you. Obsessing over these small shifts doesn’t help you learn what really matters.

Grandmaster Tip: When reviewing your game, focus on positions where the evaluation changes significantly. Those are the moments where something important happened. Ask yourself what changed in the position. Did you miss a tactic or overlook a better plan? This approach saves time and helps you concentrate on the moves that truly affected the game.

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3. Ignoring Practical Moves for “Best” Moves

Engines are excellent at finding the absolute best moves, but those moves aren’t always practical for human players. In games, choosing a simpler move that you understand can often be better than trying to find the engine’s “perfect” solution. The goal isn’t just to play the best move according to the engine, but to make moves that are practical and playable for you during a game.

Example: After reviewing your game, the engine recommends a complicated queen sacrifice leading to a winning position with perfect play. Objectively, it might be correct. But in a game, is it realistic to spot that combination under time pressure? Probably not. Going for a simpler move that keeps your position stable advantage is often a smarter choice.

Grandmaster Tip: When you see the engine suggest a move that looks complicated or risky, ask yourself: Would I have found this move during the game? If not, focus on learning the general ideas and practical plans behind the position. Moves you can consistently spot and understand are far more valuable than memorising complicated lines you’re unlikely to play over the board.

4. Reviewing Every Move Instead of Focusing on Key Moments

After finishing a game, it’s easy to go through the engine’s analysis move-by-move, hoping to catch every small mistake. But this approach can be time-consuming and less effective. Not every move in your game is critical. Spending too much time on harmless inaccuracies distracts from the moments that truly matter, like when you lost material, missed a tactic, or failed to capitalise on an advantage.

Example: You finish a game and spend time reviewing every move. You notice a few minor improvements you could have made in the opening but miss the key moment in the middlegame where you overlooked a simple tactic. In the end, you spent time on small details but missed the main reason you lost the game.

Grandmaster Tip: Focus on 2 or 3 turning points in your game. Look for moments where your advantage slipped, you made a significant mistake, or you felt confused during the game. Reviewing these positions with the engine helps you understand what went wrong and how to avoid similar mistakes in the future. This approach saves time and ensures you focus on what truly matters for your improvement.

Conclusion: Use the Engine as Your Tool, Not Your Master

Chess engines are incredibly powerful, but how you use them determines whether they help or hinder your improvement. Blindly following engine suggestions, obsessing over evaluation numbers, or overanalyzing every quick game can slow down your progress and even lead to frustration. The key is to use engines as a guide, not a crutch.

Focus on the positions that truly matter, learn from your recurring mistakes, and use your review time wisely. Rapid games are ideal for meaningful analysis, while bullet and blitz games are better suited for quick reflections rather than deep dives. Most importantly, remember that understanding why a move works is far more valuable than simply knowing what the best move is.

Engines can show you the best moves, but they can’t replace your own thought process and practical understanding. Improvement comes from combining your analysis with the engine’s insights, always keeping yourself in charge of the learning process.

At ChessNeurons.com, I provide solutions designed to enhance your practical understanding of positions, not just to show the best moves but to help you grasp the ideas behind them. By focusing on concepts you can apply in real games, you’ll improve not just what you play but how you think.

You are the master of the engine, make sure it stays that way.

Read the full Guide

These are just a few of the many on how to use the chess engines

Learn about:

• Using the Engine to Memorize Moves Instead of Learning Ideas
• Focusing Only on Individual Mistakes and Missing Long-Term Patterns
• Overusing the Engine and Analyzing Every Game

Free blog here http://chessneurons.com/blogs/mastering-king-safety-practical-tips-for-every-phase-of-the-game.

In the full blog, we dive deeper into key areas like maintaining focus between rounds, managing emotions after tough games, and creating a balanced mindset for the entire tournament.

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