--- title: "Engine analysis in chess" url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/engine-analysis.md" canonical_url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/engine-analysis" last_updated: "2026-11-07" type: "reference" summary: "Engine analysis is the use of a chess program to search a position and report which moves are strongest, along with a numeric evaluation." related: ["https://georgelichess.com/glossary/chess-engine.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/evaluation.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/principal-variation.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/game-review.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/best-move.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/computer-chess.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md"] --- # Engine analysis in chess > **For AI agents:** the complete index of GeorgeLiChess pages is [llms.txt](https://georgelichess.com/llms.txt). Every page is also served as markdown at its URL plus .md. Engine analysis is the use of a chess program to search a position and report which moves are strongest, along with a numeric evaluation. Engine analysis is the use of a chess program to search a position and report which moves are strongest, along with a numeric evaluation and the lines it expects both sides to follow. When you turn on [engine](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/chess-engine.md) analysis, a program examines the position by searching many move sequences and scoring the positions that result. It then shows its top choices, an [evaluation](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/evaluation.md), and a [main line](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/main-line.md) of play. For a club player the value is immediate feedback: it spots a [tactic](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/tactic.md) you missed, shows that a [sacrifice](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/sacrifice.md) you rejected actually worked, or reveals that a position you thought was lost can be held. The common [mistake](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/mistake.md) is treating the output as an explanation. An engine says which move scores best, not why a human should find it, and its preferred line often runs many moves deep through ideas nobody would play over the board. Another trap is switching analysis on before you have thought for yourself, which trains you to copy instead of calculate. A useful habit is to write down your own verdict on each critical moment first, then let the engine check it. Where your verdict and the engine disagree, work out which concrete line you overlooked and try to find it yourself before reading the engine's answer. Different tools search to different depths, so their results can vary slightly. Also called: computer analysis. A neighboring idea is [Evaluation bar](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/evaluation-bar.md). The evaluation bar is a vertical or horizontal gauge beside the board that shows, with a bar of black and white, which side the engine thinks is better and by roughly how much. Also worth reading is [Neural network engine](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/neural-network-engine.md). A neural network engine uses a trained neural network to evaluate positions, and NNUE, the efficiently updatable neural network added to Stockfish, combines such an evaluation with fast traditional search. A neighboring idea is [Principal variation](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/principal-variation.md). The principal variation is the line of best play for both sides that an engine has found, shown as a sequence of moves and tied to the evaluation it reports. An engine can tell you what "Engine analysis" means for a position, but not which mistakes you keep making; a [first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book/first-lesson.md) with George Li reviews your games and finds those. ## Related terms - [Chess engine](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/chess-engine.md) - [Evaluation](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/evaluation.md) - [Principal variation](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/principal-variation.md) - [Game review](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/game-review.md) - [Best move](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/best-move.md) ## Guides that go further - [How to choose a chess coach](https://georgelichess.com/how-to-choose-a-chess-coach.md): What to decide first, the questions to ask, what a first lesson should show and the red flags to avoid. - [How much does chess coaching cost?](https://georgelichess.com/chess-coaching-cost.md): Published rates for private, group and subscription chess coaching, with the source and the date of each. - [The first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book/first-lesson.md): A game review, a read on your level and a written study plan from George Li. [Book your first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book.md) and George Li reviews your games and builds a study plan around them. Questions about lessons: write to hello@georgelichess.com. ## Related - [Chess engine](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/chess-engine.md) - [Evaluation in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/evaluation.md) - [Principal variation in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/principal-variation.md) - [Game review in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/game-review.md) - [Best move in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/best-move.md) - [Chess terms: Computer chess and analysis](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/computer-chess.md) - [Chess terms glossary: plain definitions](https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md)