game analysis

when one doesent understand a move is it better to look deeper into engine lines or to ask about the move in the forum ?

kindaspongey edited

I would say that the main thing is to make sure that one has done SOME looking, including examination of lines that the machine has provided. Suppose, for example, that one is wondering about this machine conclusion:
[Site "https://lichess.org/0UNnzwlS"] [Variant "Standard"] [TimeControl "180+2"] [Annotator "lichess.org"] 1 d4 Nf6 2 c3 g6 3 Bf4 Bg7 4 e3 d6 5 Nf3 Nbd7 6 Bc4 b6 7 Nbd2? (1.63 --> 0.00) Mistake. Bxf7+ was best
(discussed at https://lichess.org/forum/game-analysis/pure-strategical-move-but).
To a large extent, the merit of 7 Bxf7+ is explained by the line, provided by the machine: 7 Bxf7+ Kxf7 8 Ng5+ Kg8 9 Qb3+ d5 10 Ne6 Nc5 11 Nxd8 Nxb3. I think that, for many of us, the line doesn't completely settle the matter. There is still room to wonder whether or not the d8-knight will be able to get to safety.
If one does (understandably) post about something like this, I think that it is very important to type out the move WITH MOVE NUMBER (such as 7 Bxh7+) that one is concerned about. Also, it is probably a good idea to provide things like [Site "https://lichess.org/0UNnzwlS"] and [TimeControl "180+2"].

I would say that the main thing is to make sure that one has done SOME looking, including examination of lines that the machine has provided. Suppose, for example, that one is wondering about this machine conclusion: [Site "https://lichess.org/0UNnzwlS"] [Variant "Standard"] [TimeControl "180+2"] [Annotator "lichess.org"] 1 d4 Nf6 2 c3 g6 3 Bf4 Bg7 4 e3 d6 5 Nf3 Nbd7 6 Bc4 b6 7 Nbd2? (1.63 --> 0.00) Mistake. Bxf7+ was best (discussed at https://lichess.org/forum/game-analysis/pure-strategical-move-but). To a large extent, the merit of 7 Bxf7+ is explained by the line, provided by the machine: 7 Bxf7+ Kxf7 8 Ng5+ Kg8 9 Qb3+ d5 10 Ne6 Nc5 11 Nxd8 Nxb3. I think that, for many of us, the line doesn't completely settle the matter. There is still room to wonder whether or not the d8-knight will be able to get to safety. If one does (understandably) post about something like this, I think that it is very important to type out the move WITH MOVE NUMBER (such as 7 Bxh7+) that one is concerned about. Also, it is probably a good idea to provide things like [Site "https://lichess.org/0UNnzwlS"] and [TimeControl "180+2"].

TotalNoob69

I think that if it was your move, you need to fully understand WHY you did that move. If it is someone else's, then maybe try to ask them first or if they have annotations to the move.

Thinking about what you would do and what the replies could be, computer or not computer, is always good, but it's a lot of effort with diminishing results. Understanding of yourself comes first.

I think that if it was your move, you need to fully understand WHY you did that move. If it is someone else's, then maybe try to ask them first or if they have annotations to the move. Thinking about what you would do and what the replies could be, computer or not computer, is always good, but it's a lot of effort with diminishing results. Understanding of yourself comes first.

kindaspongey edited

@TotalNoob69 said in #3:

I think that if it was your move, you need to fully understand WHY you did that move. ...

At least in my case, there have been many times when my thoughts were not really worth much of an examination, not having much of a relation to what I should have been thinking. Did you see the game at https://lichess.org/forum/game-analysis/problem-with-conversions?
[Site "https://lichess.org/yDeiO6AK"] [Variant "Standard"] [TimeControl "900+10"] [Annotator "lichess.org"] 34 Kf1?? (-1.45 --> Mate in 1) Checkmate is now unavoidable.
Doesn't seem to me that it is really worth much effort to recall the details of what White was thinking after 33...Qg4. Mostly, sufficient to note that White SHOULD have been thinking about what the queen might be able to do from the g4 square. I DO wonder generally what White was thinking about for ~46 seconds.

@TotalNoob69 said in #3: > I think that if it was your move, you need to fully understand WHY you did that move. ... At least in my case, there have been many times when my thoughts were not really worth much of an examination, not having much of a relation to what I should have been thinking. Did you see the game at https://lichess.org/forum/game-analysis/problem-with-conversions? [Site "https://lichess.org/yDeiO6AK"] [Variant "Standard"] [TimeControl "900+10"] [Annotator "lichess.org"] 34 Kf1?? (-1.45 --> Mate in 1) Checkmate is now unavoidable. Doesn't seem to me that it is really worth much effort to recall the details of what White was thinking after 33...Qg4. Mostly, sufficient to note that White SHOULD have been thinking about what the queen might be able to do from the g4 square. I DO wonder generally what White was thinking about for ~46 seconds.