Best analysis engine for HUMAN game improvement

I've read quite a bit about all the chess engines out there and I would like to buy one which is best for my needs. Therefore I will appreciate your input to my question below.

Which chess engine would be the best for human analysis & learning, in the sense that it should show the more natural and solid moves as would be played by a strong human as oppose to a much higher rated technical machine that don't make mistakes.

I'm not interested in the highest ELO engine (houdini etc) but rather any engine 2500+ that would show me the safer moves, leading to sound positions, rather than moves which is "technically better" due to the unobvious tactic which lies 20 moves down the line.

Houdini will also e.g. happily resign its castling rights,  finishing the game with an exposed king in the centre of the battle. I certainly won't win such a game against a strong opponent, so leading me to such a position is not a good from a 1700 ELO perspective.

I think what I'm after is an engine which is slightly more favourable to stronger positions as well as keeping safety in mind - especially king safety. Perhaps there are engines that could even be tweaked by parameters such as king safety or level of aggressiveness etc.

I will greatly appreciate your insights on this.

Thanks

I know years ago ChessMaster had a function to "create computer player", whereby you could set individual playing parameters such as king safety, attacking vs defensive play, points assigned to pieces (e.g. N=2.8, B=3.2).

If I could find a chess enige that allows me to do analysis according to such parameters, then that's probably what I'm after.

Or what would be ideal is if chess engines provide the following:

1. (-1.74, safety: 4, positional: 3, tactical: 8): 14...Ne8 15.a4 Ra7
2. (-1.60, safety: 3, positional: 6, tactical: 3): 14...Nd7 15.a4 Nb6
3. (-0.45, safety: -2, positional: -2, tactical: 0): 14...Nh5 15.Bg4 g6
4. (-0.30, safety: -2, positional: -3, tactical: -1): 14...e5 15.Bxc8 Raxc8

In which case I would be able to investigate the tactic in move 1 but I'll understand that move 2 is a more sound move. Anyone knows if this kind of engine output exists?

Thank you IM Pfren, I highly value your opinion.

I still think it gives lower level players like myself a good idea why one move is better than another by providing a clue what to look out for in the situation ... e.g. one is a tactical move where as another is a quiet but sound move to secure your position. In my humble opinion I think this would be very useful to any player trying to understand which move is "better" (for their style) and why.

I certainly agree one shouldn't simply read these numbers. Of course you have to "read" into the postion for yourself and try to understand it (with the aid of a engine in order to learn). I am just talking about clues here .. since default chess engine output means even less to me.

Well, i would recomend using Komodo, or if you can not buy it/download from piratebay just download stockfish. Computers are weak positional players themselves, so trusting them at "Pawns structure, etc." might be a bad decision.

Thanks SenpaiOfDoom, Do you mind explaining how Komodo is any better than e.g. Houdini / Rybka in this sense?

pfren is right. You want to learn, find a coach, read books, etc. Engine won't explain you anything you can't understand by yourself. Only show something you missed, mostly tactics.

So get the best one, Stockfish or Komodo.

Thanks EvgeniyZh, but I still don't get it ... 

You say an engine won't explain anything to me that I don't understand .. yet you suggest, "so get stockfish/komodo".

Are they any different from e.g. Houdini / Rybka etc?

I guess not ... ?

Yes. It's just stronger. Rubka is just like 150 ELO weaker. Why would you use it when you have something both stronger and free?

There is a special version of Rybka 3, made to emulate human-like moves (safety, avoid complications etc). At least I find that engine more instructive to use than some stronger engines, such as Houdini or Stockfish.

Judging from the initial post, that is just the engine you are looking for.

Not to disagree with pfren, but engines can teach some things:

• Not to lash out (common problem with sub 2000 players).
• Often the best move is a quiet manouvering or developing move.
• Hope chess never works against an engine

Also engines can teach you wrong lessons: not to appreciate a strong attack - engines can defend positions that look completely lost. This discourages from going into attacks that have a good chance of deciding the game.

And, the other side of that coin, they teach you to underestimate opponents attacks... since the engine can defend it with ease, it can't be dangerous, right?