Using the "Explore" Function

Hi All --

Just curious what people think ... I recently started using the "explore" function for my openings in turn-based games. I love seeing how better players play the openings and it definitely gets me to better positions in the middle game.

But even though I use it, I can't help feeling like there's something not-quite-on-the-level about it.

I know it's a resource for all to use, and my opponent could be using it too ... But still ... If my opponent doesn't use it, it definitely gives me a very easy, distinct advantage. And if I were playing in a tournament, I certainly would not have this resource available to me. What do you think?

Well there is no opening book in history that dares to escort a book-line and suddenly declare "and White/Black wins by force". I learned that the real purpose of having an opening book reference(or game explorer in your case) is that when somebody deviates, the move is usually (more often than not)  inferior and implies there is a weakness on the board that can now be exploited, however subtle it might be. This is precisely why the openings are studied, not to regurgitate 10 moves in a row, but to realize when the opponent has deviated and allows you to take advantage.

So with that being said, yes, I'm not too fond of a "Cliffs notes for openings" that chess.com seems to allow.  Though if both sides are smart enough to use it, you will probably see the fight go to the middlegame in most chess.com games and fewer quick annihilations under 10 moves :)

As this is correspondence chess, I look on explorer the same as using books in correspondence chess before the Internet became available. I have not played correspondence chess before chess.com, but I know people that have, and opening books were used even to the extent of trying to find obscure moves in an opening to confuse an opponent. I can even remember tricky positions in correspondence chess being analysed in the chess club. I think explorer is just an extension of using books. The thing is, once a game leaves the 'book' the player has to rely on their own skill to advance their position, often after only six or seven moves.