Guides

Everything you need to understand chess engines: how they work, how to use them, and how to get better with them.

Start here

• Chess Engine 101 12 min How engines think, which ones to use, and how to use them effectively. The essential starting point.

Engine profiles

• Stockfish: The Open-Source King 10 min Everything about the world's strongest engine—its history, how NNUE works, and optimal settings.
• Leela Chess Zero: The Neural Network Engine 8 min The neural network engine that plays like AlphaZero. When to use it and how to set it up.

Technical deep dives

• NNUE Explained: The Hybrid Revolution 8 min How NNUE combines neural networks with traditional search. Technical deep-dive optional.
• Understanding Engine Evaluations 8 min What +1.5 actually means, when to trust engine scores, and when they mislead.
• Engine Settings That Actually Matter 7 min The four settings that matter (Hash, Threads, MultiPV, Contempt) and how to configure them.
• Multi-PV Analysis: Seeing All the Options 6 min When to show multiple candidate moves and the trade-offs involved.
• Tablebases: Perfect Endgame Play 8 min Perfect endgame knowledge for positions with 7 or fewer pieces.

Practical use

• Using Engines for Opening Preparation 10 min Using engines for repertoire building without falling into traps.
• Analysing Your Games with an Engine 10 min The right way to review games: think first, engine second.

History and culture

• The Engine Wars: A Brief History 12 min From Deep Blue to NNUE—the full history of computer chess.
• TCEC & CCRL: How Engines Are Tested 7 min How engines are tested and what the ratings mean.