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Chess opening book (computers)
open-in-new
<p> Opening book is often used to describe the database of <a href="/facts/Chess_opening/lhWnwAd6">chess openings</a> given to <a href="/facts/Computer_chess/2wE8AU5d">computer chess programs</a> (and related games, such as <a href="/facts/Computer_shogi/Kl8opHKz">computer shogi</a>). Such programs are quite significantly enhanced through the provision of an electronic version of an <a href="/facts/Chess_opening_book/6xRCame0">opening book</a>. This eliminates the need for the program to calculate the best lines during approximately the first ten moves of the game, where the positions are extremely open-ended and thus computationally expensive to evaluate. As a result, it places the computer in a stronger position using considerably less resources than if it had to calculate the moves itself. </p><p>On some occasions, a player might consider playing a strange move outside the opening book to force a computer to think for itself. While this may introduce a strategic weakness, a lot of the time, playing out of the book early may end up compromising one's own pawn structure, losing a tempo or allow the opponent to develop more effectively, as chess engines have become significantly more powerful over time to plan more deeply or accurately than in the past. </p>