GUIDES

USING AN AUTOMATIC CHESS CALCULATOR: PROS & CONS

Blog Post

Introduction

Technology is quickly becoming an essential part of nearly everything. It’s the same for chess—where you have training programs and automated analysis tools aimed at improving chess skills regardless of skill level. In this category, we also have devices and software that can help you calculate potential moves, analyze positions, and even evaluate your games in real time. This cuts down on the time required for doing manual calculations (can be useful if you are training for blitz or speed chess, for example). Additionally, when you see better decisions to make, those moves and counterstrategies also become muscle memory for you, which can be used in your real games.

Today, we’re going to dissect the pros and cons of using these automatic chess calculators. Our objective is to offer you the hard data and a balanced view of how these tools can improve or potentially hinder your development.

What is an Automatic Chess Calculator?

An automatic chess calculator is either a physical device, software, or app that can assist you by suggesting optimal moves. Such a tool evaluates board positions in real time. More advanced chess calculators can even offer tactical insights and reasoning behind certain moves during games.

There is no strict definition for what is an automatic chess calculator. They can range from simple chess apps that offer hints to very advanced analysis tools powered by AI, such as Stockfish, ChessBase, or certain online platforms like Lichess and Chess.com. These more advanced tools can analyze games in real-time or post-game.

Chess Calculator

Also, there are some physical devices with pre-installed engines or electronic boards capable of automatic move suggestions.

Broadly speaking, regardless of how different tools work, many of them have common qualities. For example, all such tools will have some form of move evaluation to assess the best move based on the current board position. They might also take additional variables into account—material advantage or tactical/strategic patterns, for example.

Then, a lot of these tools will have blunder detection capabilities to identify potential mistakes and missed opportunities, game analysis to offer some type of insights into the strengths and weaknesses of both sides and quite possibly, endgame studies as well.

Pros of Using an Automatic Chess Calculator

Now that you understand what an automatic chess calculator is used for, it’s time to understand its benefits. Mainly, there are four key benefits of using an automatic chess calculator.


  • Faster Move Calculations: First of all, these calculator tools can speed up the process of analyzing potential moves. You no longer need to manually evaluate complex positions. Getting an overview of the best possible moves might feel like a shortcut, but it is also good practice, especially for fast-paced formats like blitz or rapid chess.

  • Better Accuracy: Automatic chess calculators can minimize human errors. They are trained on heaps of chess data, making them better at offering more precise move calculations. Some use advanced, proprietary algorithms and others AI. This way, you can avoid blunders and discover any tactical opportunities. If used correctly, these tools can help you execute more accurate strategies or find inaccuracies in your own calculations.

  • Learning and Training: Another way these tools can help you is by being a valuable learning tool. Real-time feedback is not something everyone has access to—and these tools make it a reality for those players. Feedback is super important. It allows you to see why a certain move is better or worse. If you are a beginner or intermediate player looking to improve, these tools can offer a lot of value through this feedback loop.

  • Endgame Practice: Lastly, some calculators have endgame tablebases that tell you about the perfect endgame solutions. You cannot improve your chess skills unless you know the mistakes you’re currently making—and mastering complex endgames by looking at exact moves that can be memorized is an excellent opportunity for competitive play.

Apart from these key advantages, there is also the psychological factor. Knowing that your calculator is there for post-game analysis or even during training can reassure you. This confidence can translate into a more assertive approach on the board. This, of course, is circumstantial.

Cons of Relying on an Automatic Chess Calculator

Using an automatic chess calculator also has its fair share of drawbacks. We are going to talk about a total of six shortcomings here. Not all of them will apply to all players, we just want to cover all bases so you know exactly what you’re getting into.


  • Over-Reliance: Constantly depending on an automatic chess calculator can, as a habit, hinder active and critical thinking. Chess becomes passive. If someone is already less adept at independent decision-making, it can further exacerbate the problem. Never rely overly on suggested moves or you might struggle evaluating positions and formulating strategies.

  • Limited Creativity: Depending on what tool you’re using, you will have varying degrees of creative suggestions. None of them can offer very creative solutions to certain problems. All of these algorithms and training methods are optimized only for the best moves based on probability and efficiency. This discourages unconventional play.

  • Misinformation: Calculators provide strong recommendations but they are not infallible. These evaluations are only going to be as good as the depth of analysis and arithmetic accuracy. And it’s not unheard of for these tools to suggest moves that aren’t optimal in a practical game due to positional nuances and psychological factors. You might be accepting flawed results if you rely exclusively on these tools.

  • Emotional Understanding: Chess is more than calculations. It’s a psychological battle. These calculators cannot account for those dynamics like the opponent’s fatigue, stress, or the importance of bluffing. Learning how to make effective emotional decisions is a key skill in chess.

  • Dependency During Competitive Play: Players might become over-dependent on calculators. If you use them a lot during training, you might become lost during a competitive game where calculators aren’t allowed. Needless to say, your performance will be affected during critical moments.

  • Ethical Concerns: There are several ethical concerns here as well. Automatic calculators are considered cheating in online chess. Relying on them a lot can tempt you to use them improperly, which can even lead to a ban. If you wish to protect your integrity as a player and have a spotless reputation, you might want to avoid them.

Chess Calculator

Is It Right for You? When to Use It?

First of all, automatic chess calculators can be very good for beginners and intermediate-level players who are still mastering the fundamentals. Most importantly, these calculators help you identify mistakes. Also, if you’re struggling with board visualization or tactical patterns, some of the more advanced tools can help you fill these gaps.

Advanced players might want to focus strictly on advanced automatic chess calculators known for their in-depth post-game analysis and complex endgame studies. These can be used to study specific opponents as well.

Just remember—never make it a crutch, only a tool to fill gaps and supplement your existing training!

They are good for training sessions and improving certain skills like recognizing tactical patterns but if your reliance on these tools is hindering your ability to think independently during games, it’s time to step back. Also, tool-based external validation might not be the best idea just before a tournament.