Powerful Chess Engines Useless for Beginners?

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pivot0

Hi guys,

Let's say you're a beginner like me, under 1000 ELO, and you want to analyze some of your games. Here's my thoughts: it'd be better to use an engine around 1400 than a behemoth 2700+ engine.

The 2700+ engine would find much better moves, but they would be so beyond a sub-1000 player that it seems almost deleterious to study. Whereas a 1400 engine would not be so far over your head, and you might be able to see and understand the tactics and tricks it uses in its decision process.

Thoughts?

blueemu

Better still, have a Human analyze your games instead of a box. They can offer more than just a bare sequence of moves... they can explain WHY.

IMKeto

Do your own analysis first.  Have someone stronger go over the game with you.  I give you credit for understanding that engine analysis at your level is pretty much useless.  I see so many posts here, where beginners are concerned with things like:

"Why was my move only labeled brilliant, and not excellent?"

"Why is my move bad, when it shows a .4 advantage?

"My CAPS score is...Did i play like a GM?"

You can use a top level engine, but only use it to look for blunders, and missed tactics.