Guide
Filter novelties by metric. Combine them to surface specific patterns.
Metrics
What each metric measures, and what Low / Mid / High mean for filtering.
Eval Quality
How the engine grades the novelty's objective quality.
Low
The engine considers the move dubious or losing.
Mid
Not the engine's first choice, but a viable alternative — often hard to refute, not a mistake.
High
Matches the engine's top continuation.
Mid is not a bad result — pair it with Practical Difficulty: High to find moves the engine downgrades but that are very hard to face over the board.
Practical Difficulty
How tough the response is for a human at the board, with no preparation.
Low
Easy to handle — natural replies defend well.
Mid
Several plausible replies leak some advantage; the best reply is not obvious.
High
Most natural replies worsen the position; the right one is hard to find.
Useful as a stand-alone filter, or paired with Eval Quality: Mid to find practical traps that are technically not the best move.
Strategic Shift
How much the long-term character of the game is changed by the novelty.
Low
Strategic landscape stays essentially the same.
Mid
Noticeable change in one or two structural features.
High
The game's strategic foundations are reshaped on multiple fronts at once.
Pair with Theory Impact: High to find moves that strike known theory and reshape the position the opponent thought they knew.
Plan Shift
How much the opponent must abandon their habitual plans after the novelty.
Low
Familiar replies still work; the novelty is a refinement, not a redirection.
Mid
Some habitual plans no longer fit; the opponent must adapt parts of their repertoire.
High
Typical replies no longer hold — the opponent is forced into unfamiliar territory.
Pair with Theory Impact: High for anti-preparation weapons that hit established lines hard.
Imbalance
Whether the novelty trades material for real compensation.
Low
No real imbalance, or an unsound sacrifice.
Mid
Material imbalance with partial compensation — dynamic positions.
High
Clear material investment with strong, engine-confirmed compensation.
Pair with Eval Quality: High to surface sound sacrifices the engine fully endorses.
Theory Impact
How disruptive the novelty is to known opening theory.
Low
Played in a position barely touched by theory.
Mid
Appears in a recognised position with established theory.
High
Strikes a heavily-explored, well-established position.
Combine with Plan Shift: High to find moves that force opponents off their preparation right away.
Recipes
One-click filter presets. Each preset opens the Novelties page with the filters already applied.
Practical traps
Moves outside the engine's top choice that are very hard to refute in human play.
Eval Quality: Mid
Practical Difficulty: High
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Engine-certified
Novelties that improve on the best move played before in this position.
Eval Quality: High
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Theory bombs
Lands in heavily-played positions and forces the opponent off their preparation.
Theory Impact: High
Plan Shift: High
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Fighting sacrifices
Sacrifices the engine fully backs — material given up for real compensation.
Imbalance: High
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Game-changers
Novelties that reshape the character of the position.
Strategic Shift: High
Plan Shift: Mid / High
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Elite practice
Novelties tested by elite players in classical games.
Elo: ≥ 2600
Time: No blitz
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