In the Age of AI and LLMs, Chess Remains Beautifully Human

Details: Published: Tuesday, 13 May 2025 20:23; Written by Openingmaster; Hits: 37

In an era where Artificial Intelligence dominates headlines whether it’s ChatGPT from OpenAI, Gemini by Google, or Elon Musk’s Grok on X, one might wonder: Is there anything still purely human? One answer, surprisingly, is chess.

Yes, chess, the ancient game of kings, scholars, and dreamers has long been conquered by machines. Stockfish, Leela Chess Zero, and other engines surpass even the strongest grandmasters by over 1000 ELO points. To put that in perspective, if you fielded an entire army of Magnus Carlsens and Gukesh D’s, the AI would still beat them 100 to 0, without even sweating a silicon circuit.

But here's the thing, chess was never about perfection.

Beautiful Errors, Blunders, and Brilliance

Unlike AI, humans blunder. We miss tactics, miscalculate endgames, and walk into traps. And yet, these very flaws give rise to something extraordinary - the emotion. The agony of a blunder. The triumph of a comeback. The poetry of a well-played gambit. Kids play it the same as 80 year old with smiles on their face or deep hate when losing it.

Chess, at its core, is not about playing perfect moves. It’s about the human journey through decisions, risks, and consequences. No engine can replicate that experience.

Why LLMs Still Don't "Get" Chess

Today’s Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Grok are incredibly powerful. They remember every public chess game in existence. They can mimic commentary, quote theory, and even tell you about the legendary 1997 match when Deep Blue beat Garry Kasparov.

But there’s a catch: they aren’t chess engines. These models are based on patterns in language, not precise calculation. Uploading your PGN and asking, “What’s the best move?” might yield a confident response but more often than not, it’ll be a blunder black wolf dressed as white sheep.

LLMs don’t understand the 64 squares the way Stockfish or a grandmaster does. Their beauty lies in narrative, not in checkmate.

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The Greatness of the Game

It’s often said that the number of possible chess positions exceeds the number of atoms in the known universe. This idea is connected to Shannon’s Number a great estimate of 10^120 possible games. Even quantum computers, with all their futuristic promise, would struggle to "solve" chess in the way they might solve tic-tac-toe or Chinese GO game.

Why? Because chess is not meant to be solved. It’s meant to be explored.

A.I. Didn’t Kill Chess, It Supercharged It

During the COVID-19 pandemic, chess saw an explosion in popularity. The Netflix hit The Queen’s Gambit made the game cool again. Twitch streamers like Hikaru Nakamura and GothamChess drew millions of viewers and soon after chess.com hit 100 million users. And behind the scenes, engines and LLMs helped train, analyze, and inspire.

AI hasn’t replaced chess. It has simply become a tool, a training partner, a sparring bot, a database librarian. But when it’s time to sit down at the board, whether online or over-the-board, it’s still you and your opponent. Your nerves, your creativity, your bold sacrifices.

Chess Belongs to Us and Opening Master is human chess database

AI might remember every game ever played. But it will never feel the thrill of a queen sacrifice or the fear of a ticking clock.

So no, AI hasn’t ended chess. It has reminded us how precious it is to be human in a world of perfect machines.

And as long as we keep playing with passion, mistakes, and dreams, chess will never be solved. It will be lived.

A Final Word

Whether you’re a FIDE trainer, a titled player, or a passionate student of the game, Opening Master gives you the tools to learn, grow, and prepare with confidence. After 25 years, we’re not slowing down. We’re evolving with the game, just like you.

If you’re serious about chess, trust the database that’s earned the respect of the global chess community. Opening Master - where every move matters.

Today, Opening Master is more than just a database; it’s a community that spans the globe, connects non-profits, funds projects or is official educational tool for Global FIDE. We provide monthly updates to players from Slovakia to the USA, Nigeria to Australia, Germany to the UK, and over 160+ countries. Our database is an invaluable resource for players, coaches, and enthusiasts at all levels.