What is an Inaccuracy?

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Shadow_Dragon_86

I recently analyzed a game, in which the opponent lost a queen. The Maximum analysis setting called it an inaccuracy, when I expected it to be called a blunder. What did the computer mean by inaccuracy? Is it a term I'm not familiar with that has a solid chess-related definition?

bdbhale

According to me, an inaccuracy is something which does not lose material, or even if it does, offers enough compensation! I think an inaccuracy is something like a positional mistake, like putting your piece on a bad square! If your opponent lost a queen, but it says inaccuracy, i think that means that your opponent might have had a counter tactic, or an attack or something for it?

 

baddogno

This explains it...

https://support.chess.com/customer/portal/articles/1444907

Shadow_Dragon_86

@ThePrayingBeast I don't think so, the computer said I was up ~17 proceeding...

baddogno

 For the too lazy to click, here's the gist of it....

"Inaccuracy" - The computer evaluates that this move resulted in a position that is at least 0.3 points worse than the position resulting from the best move available

"Mistake" - This move is at least 0.9 points worse than the best move available

"Blunder" - This move is at least 2 points worse than the best move available - pretty bad!  happy.png

Shadow_Dragon_86

@baddogno I think I was up by so much that blundering the queen didn't do anything, thanks for clearing it up. Thanks you two!

bdbhale

 I think you were already completely winning then? PM me with ur comment; don't wanna check this!

 

52yrral

Inaccuracy is the move I make when not opting for a mistake or a blunder!

Ubernehmen

You really have to assess inaccuracies. Sometimes it means you could achieve the same result using a faster series of moves. Perhaps your strategic decisions worked but the engine found a better strategy. Either way could yield an advantage. Obviously, should eliminate blunders and mistakes first.

NikkiLikeChikki
So is a “missed win” just the opposite of a blunder? That is, a missed opportunity to go up +2?
tygxc

If the move loses, then it is a mistake.

If the move does not lose, then it is not inaccurate.

Moonwarrior_1
tygxc wrote:

If the move loses, then it is a mistake.

If the move does not lose, then it is not inaccurate.

Not necessarily, one inaccuracy might lose a game if no other blunders or mistakes are made

tygxc

#15
Because of the 50 move rule and the 3 fold repetition rule any chess position is either draw, won, or lost.
A mistake (?) changes the game either from draw to lost or from won back to draw.
A blunder (??) changes the game from won to lost.
There is no such thing as an inaccuracy.

More sense would make:

"Mistake (?)" - This move turns the evaluation either from the band -0.5 to +0.5 either to > 0.5 or < -0.5 or from either >0.5 or <-0.5 back to the band -0.5 - 0.5

"Blunder (??)" - This move turns the evaluation from >0.5 to <-0.5 or vice versa.