Playing a bot is convenient: it is always available, never tilts and never complains about the clock. But a bot is not a human, and the depth setting changes the kind of opponent you face.
What depth means for a bot
At low depth, the bot sees fewer moves ahead and makes more tactical mistakes. At high depth, it calculates more accurately but still follows engine preferences: it may trade into a boring draw or choose a move that is objectively best but practically difficult for a human.
ChessUrge bots range from depth 1 to 15. Each move is charged on a node basis, so a deeper bot costs more credits than a shallow one.
Recommended ranges
- Depth 1–3: beginners learning the rules, or speed drills with a weak opponent.
- Depth 4–6: club players practising basic tactics and conversion.
- Depth 7–10: stronger practice; the bot punishes loose pieces and simple plans.
- Depth 11–15: sharp calculation practice and opening testing; expect few free mistakes.
Do not use bots to learn human plans
Humans make different mistakes: they get tired, they drift, they avoid trades for psychological reasons. A bot will not. If you want to improve at practical play, spend most of your time against humans and use bots for specific training.
Review the bot game
A bot game is still a game. Run a review, look for the first turning point, and check whether you understood the position or just followed a plan. The review is where the improvement happens, not the result.
Choose a depth on the bot page.
See the whole game, not just the blunder.
Choose a review depth, see the maximum cost, and get move-by-move accuracy with blunder, mistake and inaccuracy markers.