Our Analysis Process

How We Transform Your Games into Learning Opportunities

At Chessman2b, we’ve developed a comprehensive analysis process that combines the raw computational power of modern chess engines with nuanced human insight. Our approach ensures that every game receives thorough, meaningful analysis that goes beyond simple engine evaluations to provide practical, actionable insights for improvement. This page details our step-by-step process, from initial game submission to final delivery of your annotated game.

We understand that each chess game is unique and that players of different levels need different types of analysis. Whether you’re a club player looking to understand your strategic mistakes or a tournament player seeking deep tactical analysis, our process is designed to provide the insights you need to improve your game.

Step 1: Game Preparation and Engine Configuration

When you submit your game, it undergoes an initial preprocessing phase where we configure our analysis engines for optimal performance. We utilize a powerful array of chess engines including Stockfish 16, Leela Chess Zero, Komodo 14, and Dragon by Stockfish, each running on dedicated multi-core processors with custom-tuned hash sizes and neural network configurations. This multi-engine approach ensures we capture different strategic and tactical perspectives on your game.

During this initial phase, we also perform a comprehensive opening book analysis using multiple databases including the ChessBase Mega Database 2024, Modern Chess Opening files, and specialized opening encyclopedias. This helps identify theoretical novelties, assess opening choices, and understand where the game deviated from established theory.

Our hardware infrastructure includes multiple high-performance computers with the latest multi-core processors, ensuring that each engine can perform deep analysis efficiently. The systems are configured with large hash tables (typically 64GB or more) and utilize high-speed SSD storage for rapid database access.

Step 2: Multi-Engine Deep Analysis

Each game undergoes multiple analysis passes at different depths and time controls. The first pass identifies critical positions where significant evaluation changes occur or where complex tactical or strategic decisions were required. These positions are then subjected to extensive deep analysis, often reaching depths of 40-45 ply or more.

Our unique “Cross-Engine Validation” system compares evaluations and suggested lines from different engines. When multiple engines agree on a position’s assessment, this provides strong confirmation of the best course of action. When engines disagree, this often highlights complex positions that require special attention from our human analysts. Each critical position is analyzed for a minimum of 5-10 minutes per engine, with particularly complex positions receiving extended analysis time of up to an hour.

The analysis process includes specific checks for tactical motifs, missed opportunities, and alternative plans. Our engines are configured to explore multiple lines rather than just the top engine choice, ensuring we discover practical playing alternatives that might be more suitable for human players.

Step 3: Expert Human Analysis and Annotation

Our team of experienced chess analysts, including FIDE masters and International Masters, reviews each game and the engine analysis. They add crucial human insight, identifying patterns in your play, explaining strategic concepts, and providing practical advice that goes beyond pure engine evaluations. Our analysts focus on making the complex engine lines understandable and actionable for human players.

The human analysis phase includes identification of key strategic moments, explanation of long-term plans, and assessment of practical playing chances. Our analysts provide detailed written explanations of critical positions, including alternative plans and ideas that might not be the engine’s first choice but could be more practical in over-the-board play.

Each game receives personalized attention, with analysts considering the player’s rating level and style when providing recommendations. We focus on identifying patterns in your play that could be improved and suggest specific training exercises or focus areas for future games.

Step 4: Enhanced Visual Analysis and Variation Trees

Our analysis includes comprehensive visual elements to enhance understanding. We use ChessBase’s advanced annotation tools to create clear visual representations of plans and ideas. This includes colored arrows showing piece movements, highlighted squares indicating key tactical targets, and territory marking to illustrate pawn structures and piece placement themes.

For critical positions, we create detailed variation trees showing multiple possible continuations. Each significant variation is analyzed both by engines and human experts, with clear explanations of the pros and cons of different choices. We pay special attention to move order subtleties and transposition possibilities, helping you understand not just what moves to play but also how to reach favorable positions while avoiding opponent’s tricks.

Step 5: Quality Control and Verification

Before delivery, each analyzed game goes through a rigorous quality control process. This includes verification of all engine lines, checking the clarity and completeness of annotations, and ensuring all critical positions have been adequately explained. Our quality control team ensures that the analysis maintains a consistent level of detail and explanation throughout the game.

The verification process includes checking all variations for accuracy, ensuring proper formatting of annotations, and verifying that all visual elements are correctly implemented. We also review the analysis for clarity and accessibility, ensuring that complex ideas are explained in a way that’s appropriate for the player’s skill level.

Step 6: Final Preparation and Delivery

The final analysis is prepared in your chosen format (PGN, ChessBase, or Chess Assistant), with all annotations, variations, and visual elements properly formatted. Each delivery includes a summary report highlighting key findings, specific recommendations for improvement, and suggested areas for future study.

For premium analysis services, we also provide supplementary training materials and exercises based on the themes and patterns identified in your game. These materials are carefully selected to help you work on specific areas where improvement would be most beneficial.

Ready to have your games analyzed with this comprehensive approach?