Past the Honeymoon Stage With Stockfish

Now I know my place

Chess menu from free Lichess site — Image of couple — Free with Canva Pro

You know you’re past the honeymoon stage in a relationship when the illusions have disappeared. Appreciating the wonder and lamenting the limitations you’ve committed for better or worse. In the courtship phase, you expected a utopia where your partner would solve all the mysteries. Instead, you’re baffled by cryptic communication that requires code-breaking skills. Instead of abandonment, you try couples therapy (think Decode Chess here).

Many guests on Chess Journeys are like a good mother warning about a potential partner (Stockfish) being only good as a casual friend but a poor spouse — beneficial at times but usually useless. Young and naive (novice at chess), you expect this older and infinitely wise person to meet all your needs (analyzing your games) and help you to become your best self (teaching you how to improve at chess).

I have no clue how to determine where my blunders happened or what key moments were in the game. I suspect that analysis tools on chess.com and Lichess based on engines are only useful to intermediate players. –Should I Stay A Chess Engine Virgin?

During the honeymoon phase, you explore all the potential the relationship has to offer and grow in your self-knowledge. I discovered Lichess studies and started using them to write what I…