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How do I use the Game Explorer?

Learn how to navigate and customize the Game Explorer on Chess.com, and understand how to interpret the results to improve your strategy.

Updated over 2 weeks ago

Game Explorer on Chess.com

Game Explorer lets you study popular chess openings, analyze millions of master games, and improve your opening strategies. Here’s how to navigate it:

Choose your data base

Use the dropdown at the top of the right panel to select data from:

  • The Master Games database (featuring top-level games),

  • Your own games,

  • Or games from a specific Chess.com member. If you select 'Other Players,' you’ll need to enter their username.

Game Explorer screen on Chess.com

Exploring moves and notable games

As you make moves on the board, the right panel updates with a list of possible moves for the current position, along with the number of games in which each move was played based on your selected database.

You can click any move on the list to refresh the table with new data, which serves as an alternative to moving the pieces directly on the board. The color-coded bar graph next to each move will also update, showing:

  • White wins (white bar),

  • Draws (gray bar),

  • Black wins (black bar).

Game Explorer screen on Chess.com

Below the move list, you’ll see notable games for the current position, based on your selected database. Click the down arrow to view the full moves, and use the navigation arrows to browse through the game.

For deeper analysis, check the box next to any game and click 'Add Game' to open it on the Analysis Board. Use the dropdown at the top of the right panel to switch between all games you’ve added.

You can add games to your collection, practice against the Computer, or share games using the icons at the bottom of the right panel.

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