Analysis in chess - Chess glossary term
Analysis
Definition
In chess, analysis is the structured investigation of a position, sequence of moves, opening line, endgame, or entire game with the goal of discovering accurate continuations, hidden resources, plans, and mistakes. Analysis may be carried out by a single player, by two or more opponents together (“post-mortem”), or with the assistance of computer engines. It ranges from a quick tactical check lasting seconds to deep theoretical research that spans decades.
Forms of Analysis
- Pre-game preparation – Home study of likely openings and middlegame themes before a scheduled encounter.
- In-game calculation – Real-time “over-the-board” (OTB) mental analysis limited by the clock and one’s memory.
- Post-mortem – Immediate review with the opponent or coach right after the game ends.
- Engine-assisted analysis – Use of software such as Stockfish, Leela Zero, or cloud engines to evaluate positions with great tactical accuracy.
- Correspondence / correspondence-style – Days or weeks are spent analysing a single move, often with databases and engines.
- Publication & theoretical analysis – Deep research that appears in books, magazines, or opening monographs.
Usage in Practical Chess
Players routinely mark critical moments in their score sheets with “!?” or “?!” and later revisit them on an analysis board. Coaches assign homework such as “analyse the endgame after 40…Kf7” to help students develop calculation discipline. Online platforms provide a one-click Analyse button that opens a separate board where pieces can be moved freely without affecting the game in progress.
Strategic and Historical Significance
Systematic analysis has advanced chess theory enormously:
- Opening novelties (novas) discovered in home analysis—e.g. 21…Nxd4!! in the Meran Semi-Slav (Kramnik – Topalov, Wijk aan Zee 2008).
- Endgame tablebase analysis proving positions as wins, draws, or losses that humans had mis-evaluated for centuries (e.g., the famous “R+N vs. R” ending clarified in 1991).
- The demolition of long-standing myths, such as the refutation of “hand-in-hand” king marches once engines showed concrete defences.
Historically, world champions like Steinitz, Lasker, and Capablanca relied on painstaking manual analysis; later champions (Botvinnik, Kasparov) created formal laboratories of assistants. Today, elite players combine personal intuition and super-computer clusters.
Example Position
Consider the classic tactical puzzle from Kasparov – Topalov, Wijk aan Zee 1999 after 24…Bxb4:
White: Kg1 Qc2 Ra3 Rf1 Bc1 Nc3 Pawns: a2 b2 c4 e5 f2 g2 h2
Black: Kg8 Qd4 Ra8 Rf8 Bf8 Be7 Nc6 Pawns: a7 b7 c5 d6 e6 g7 h7
Side to move: White
Deep analysis reveals the brilliant winning line:
[[Pgn|25. Nb5! Qxe5 26. Re3 Qf6 27. Rxe6 Qf7 28. Ree1 a6 29. Nc7 Rac8 30. Ne6 Rfe8 31. Qd5 and White converts the attack.|fen|]]Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Blindfold Analysis: Miguel Najdorf once analysed a full grandmaster game blindfold during a train ride, astonishing onlookers by reproducing every variation from memory.
- Kasparov vs. Deep Blue (1997): Debate still rages over whether Game 2’s mysterious 37…Be4!! was human preparation or computer calculation—a landmark for human-machine analytical rivalry.
- Engine “Zero-esque” Discoveries: Neural-network engines have recently proposed king walks in the opening (e.g., 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Kf2!?) that overturned assumptions of what sound analysis should look like.
- The expression “analysis paralysis” is borrowed from chess, warning that infinite pondering can prevent decisive action both on and off the board.
Key Takeaways
- Analysis is both an art and a science—balancing creative ideas with concrete calculation.
- It occurs before, during, and after the game and is essential to improvement at every level.
- Modern engines enhance but do not replace human judgment: understanding why a move works is as important as seeing that it does.