Using game explorer when playing

Are you sure it is fair to use game explorer in the middle of a game? I saw an unusual move for me. (black) it looks crazy but it says it wins 40 % of the time. Seems Unusual and somehow I don't trust it. Besides, it does not seem quite right to have that info available if it should be correct. What do you think? Stwils

It is not allowed during live chess but you may use databases during correspondance chess.

There's no point in 'winning' if the computer is winning for you...what would be the point?

I go through some of my games afterwards in Rybka, trying to see which moves were strong or weak, but in the middle of a game it just seems a futile exercise to me.....& there's absolutely no pleaure when you win too.

I've had this very same discussion before, as I thought it felt like cheating. I ran an experiment of 'explorer' vs. 'explorer', and I only got about eleven moves in before it ran out. Also, if you rely on it exclusively, a strong player will eat you for breakfast. It's no good playing an opening sequence without knowing the theory behind it. A good example is stuff like a4, which is pointless if you don't know the follow up plan. This, by the way, from me, who is rubbish at opening theory. It may feel like cheating, but it is a double edged sword, to say the least.