How do Tablebases work?

Tablebases are generated by retrograde analysis, working backward from a checkmated position. By 2005, all chess positions with up to six pieces (including the two kings) had been solved. Tablebases have enhanced competitive play and facilitated the composition of endgame studies.

Are endgames solved?

A milestone was reached in 2012 when a Russian team used a supercomputer to generate the Lomonosov tablebases, which cover all possible endgames with seven units or fewer (barring the trivial cases of six pieces vs king). Consequently, the game of chess is more-or-less solved for such miniature positions!

How do you use Syzygy Tablebases?

How to use tablebases on Lichess? In endgame positions the opening explorer is replaced by a tablebase explorer. During analysis, click the book icon on the right side of the board to open it. It will show objective evaluations for every move in the position, giving you the best lines.

Why is chess not solved?

So optimal strategies for chess do exist; however, no one has any idea what they are. Whereas tic-tac-toe is solved thanks to a quite small space of possible games, chess is nowhere near solved because its space of possible games far outstrips what could be dealt with by current computing technology.

What does Syzygy stand for?

: the nearly straight-line configuration of three celestial bodies (such as the sun, moon, and earth during a solar or lunar eclipse) in a gravitational system. Examples: The full moon and new moon phenomena occur when the earth, sun, and moon are in syzygy. “

What is Syzygy probe depth?

The default depth is 2 half-plies. Syzygy Probe Limit: this determines how many pieces need to be on the board before Komodo begins probing (even at the root). By default, this is set to 6 (the current upper limit of the Syzygy tablebases).