Compare the four chess AI levels
| Level | Search | Suggested clock | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | 1 ply | 15+10 | First complete games |
| Medium | 2 plies | 10+5 | Building consistency |
| Hard | 3 plies | 3+2 | Tactical discipline |
| Expert | 4 plies | 15+10 | Calculation under pressure |
Which chess AI level should you choose?
Start with Easy if you are learning to complete games and press the clock after each move. Medium suits players who know the rules but still miss one-move threats. Hard makes candidate-move discipline more important. Expert provides the deepest local search for longer calculation sessions. Move up only when the current level no longer reveals a useful weakness.
How the local chess AI works
The opponent runs in your browser. It generates legal moves, evaluates material and piece activity, then searches one to four plies depending on the selected level. Higher levels search more positions and choose from fewer deliberately varied replies. This is a compact training opponent, not a cloud analysis engine or rating test.
How to turn a game into useful practice
Keep the level and clock setting fixed for at least three games. Before each session, choose one goal such as checking every forcing reply or saving time for the ending. Afterward, find the first decision where the plan broke down. A repeatable question gives more useful evidence than simply counting wins.
For the implementation limits behind the search-depth and privacy claims, read the clock and local-AI methodology. For a repeatable session plan, follow the AI chess clock training guide. To understand controls such as 10+5, use the chess time control notation guide.