Modern online chess platforms offer more than just standard games. Features like conditional moves, vacation mode, and analysis tools give players flexibility, efficiency, and powerful learning opportunities. Mastering these options can make your online experience smoother, more enjoyable, and more productive.
Conditional moves allow you to pre-program replies in correspondence or daily games. For instance, if you expect your opponent to recapture a piece, you can set your response in advance.
Saves time, keeps games moving, and reduces repetitive clicks in forced lines. It also lets you “play ahead” without constantly checking the board.
Be careful—if your prediction is wrong, your move may backfire. Use conditional moves only when responses are nearly certain.
Vacation mode protects your games from timeouts when you can’t play—during holidays, busy weeks, or emergencies.
This feature ensures that correspondence games remain competitive and not decided by absence. Most platforms limit vacation days to prevent abuse.
Activate vacation mode before you’re unavailable, and inform your regular opponents if possible. Use it responsibly to maintain trust.
Analysis tools help you review finished games. Features may include move-by-move commentary, computer evaluations, and visual annotations.
Identifying mistakes, blunders, and missed opportunities builds pattern recognition. Reviewing annotated games accelerates your improvement.
Balance engine analysis with your own thinking. Use the computer to check, not to replace, your calculations.
In your next correspondence game, set a conditional line for a forced sequence and see how it affects the game flow.
Try activating vacation mode before a trip or busy weekend. Monitor how it preserves your games without disruption.
Analyse your last three games using both your own notes and the analysis tool. Compare your conclusions with engine evaluations.
They are pre-entered responses to likely opponent moves, useful in slower formats like correspondence chess.
A setting that pauses your games so you don’t lose on time while away. It’s most common in daily chess formats.
They let you review games with annotations, evaluations, and suggestions, helping you learn from mistakes.
Yes, but with moderation. They enhance your experience but should complement—not replace—core chess practice.
👉 Advanced chess features like conditional moves, vacation mode, and analysis tools give you greater control and deeper insights. Used wisely, they elevate your online chess experience while supporting fair play and improvement.
🔗 Related pages: Understanding Game Settings | Using Your Game Archive