How to Read a Chess Game Review
A game review turns an engine analysis into a story of your game — here’s how to read every part of it in a few minutes.
A review answers one question fast: where did the game turn, and why? Run one on the free game review, then read it in five steps.
Five steps
- Add your game. Import your recent games from your Chess.com or Lichess username, or paste a PGN, then run the review.
- Read the report card. Check each player’s accuracy, estimated rating, and average centipawn loss, plus the count of each move classification.
- Scan the eval graph. Follow the win-probability curve to see where the game swung; the marked dots are the key moments. Click anywhere to jump there.
- Step through the key moments. Walk the turning points; on a mistake, preview the engine’s best move and the punishment line.
- Explore your own ideas. Play alternative moves from any position to branch into a live-engine variation, then return to the game.
What each part means
The report card
Per player: accuracy (how close your moves were to best), an estimated rating, average centipawn loss, and how many moves fell into each classification.
The eval bar and graph
The eval bar shows the current advantage from White’s side; the graph plots the win probability across the whole game so you can see the swings at a glance. The colored dots mark brilliancies, mistakes, and blunders.
Key moments and coach notes
The guided review stops at the turning points and explains each in plain language — and on a bad move you can preview the engine’s better move and walk the line that punishes the error.
Frequently asked questions
What does the eval bar show?
It shows who is better and by how much, from White’s point of view. A bar tilted toward White means White is winning; a number like +1.5 means roughly a pawn-and-a-half advantage, and “M3” means a forced mate in three.
Where do I start when reviewing a game?
Start with the report card to see your accuracy and biggest error types, then use the eval graph to find the moments where the game swung and step through those key moments.
Do I need to understand engine numbers?
No. The classifications and coach notes translate the engine into plain language, but the centipawn and win% numbers are there if you want them.
Ready? Review a game, or learn the move classifications first.