“Excellent” move is better than “Best”?

Hi,

Possibly a completely noob question, but I often find this sort of thing in post-game analysis - the recommended “best” move has a lower score than the one I played... so in what sense is it the “best”?

Or am I missing something?

This is on the iOS app.

Thanks!

The evaluation may change when the analysis gets deeper. In this case, you compare two different kinds of "totally winning", where it doesn't really matter. Pick the move you feel more comfortable with (in this case, most likely simplification by trading down).

That’s helpful. Thanks!

It's worth mentioning that the "best move" by engine evaluation doesn't always mean that it's the best move for a human. The engine doesn't care if some super crazy tactics are involved (not here, obviously) and sometimes even calls the best move by human criteria (e.g. simplifying to a trivially won Pawn endgame by sacrificing material) a blunder, just because the evaluation is something like +8 vs +18.

I think it rare but the best move gives you lower points here, I believe the computer has worked out some whacky 3000 rated moves that you will never do, and thus the point score for the best move is lower, but it is the best move for a human! So hopefully you did the best move!

So I have the game, and I have it worked to checkmate the opponent. However, though my plan checkmates in 4 moves and the computer in 3 moves, it gives me an inaccurate move, even though it is basically irrelevant, because it liked it's moves better than mine. So because my moves were totally different, outcome is still certain; a checkmate on the opponent. But an inaccuracy because my attack was different than it's moves! I say NO! I liked my plan!