Can engines make a plan while playing?

We know that engines analysis positions. And they just analysis one position at a time. So can they make a plan for playing?

(I mean like an level 3 computer in chess.com)

thanks for helping.

I thought it before posting and ended up with the same conclusion. But I'm not sure if both of us are correct.

(anyone else wanna join?)

In my opinion, I think that engines have plans, but not THAT kind of plan. Their "plans" is just best moves stacked on each other, and our plans are steps to make an attack or make a defense.

But still I still have the same opinion, just another way to tell the difference.

Don't engines use a database of winning games to make their opening and middle game moves? That is kind of a plan.

No, hell no, no way, and not even close. I speak as a computer programmer.

Not the way humans do. Engines look at moves, consider all possible responses, then choose the move/line that results in the highest evaluation score.

Some positional factors go into an engine's analysis but they're very basic compared to how a human analyzes a given position. Engines will give you raw output of variations 20+ moves long and - in a sense - that is how they "plan." They cannot yet assess a position the way we do and give you a paragraph on why one side is better or why it's correct to use an abstract idea like color complexes to force a winning position. I think that one day, they will be able to.. but not yet. However, reading between the lines of those variations that engines give you, you can often see a "planned" series of moves that compare with moves that top players consider and make themselves; the difference is the method by which the two arrive at their desicions. Humans rely on logic and a generally small tree of calculations, engines on raw calculations with primitive positional analysis programmed by a human.

No.

I agree.

A engine calculates, but they don't plan. They just calculate for the best moves. We calculate for plans.

(Earliest time I logged in due to jet lag)

Sure it is. Isn't that what the pros do when they prepare for a match? They know the openings to be played for the most part and memorize the best lines before using strategy to plan their moves don't they?

Engines don't make a "plan" per se, instead they play the game by estimating positions on a move by move basis. More advanced engines retain the already analyzed lines, as I understand, so you could say they have countless plans in their silicon brains on what to do in response to opponent's possible moves, slightly changing the plans as their assessment of the positions deepens.

It isn't real plans.

Score: 1-8 currently

lol.

Computers go through a permutation of move and decides the best based upon which it evaluation function and a mini-max algorithm.  The computer can store what it thinks is the best line.

Now the problem is what do you consider a plan.  If my plan is to play Nc7+ and take the rook next move, then the computer can plan that.  If my plan is to pawn storm due to opposite side castling, there are functions which suggest this to the computer, and the storing of move is its plan.  

The other side is most RTS.  The basic plan is to gather resources, build an army, make defensive structures (of both buildings and men), and attacking.  The computer doesn't really develop a plan, but follows a predetermined set of instructions.  This implies no intelligence and, therefore, no plan.

For the final thought argument, consider the human brain.  We follow the same guidelines the computers are given, and we often come to the same conclusion.  Do we make a plan just like a computer would?  We are able to change our plan during a game, but this may be just using different guidelines, which equals that we are worse at making a plan due to our limited RAM. 

It's often the commonality of two things that is important. I detect a certain commonality in these two responses. 

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So why do you think this answer?

so I got your idea. do u mean that the couple of the engine's moves might be a plan or else?

ouch.

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1. Got it.

So you mean that engines only make specifies, but their plans have no logical. And we make logical moves.

But we both make plans, so your answer refer to both answers.

2. Please look at the first post again.