Chess opening book (computers)

Opening book is often used to describe the database of chess openings given to computer chess programs (and related games, such as computer shogi). Such programs are quite significantly enhanced through the provision of an electronic version of an opening book. 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.

Chess opening book (computers)

Opening book is often used to describe the database of chess openings given to computer chess programs (and related games, such as computer shogi). Such programs are quite significantly enhanced through the provision of an electronic version of an opening book. 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.