Skip to main content

Bot Configuration

Chess-tui allows you to configure the behavior of the computer opponent (bot) when playing against a chess engine.

Configuration​

Bot settings can be configured in the ~/.config/chess-tui/config.toml file:

# Bot thinking depth for chess engine (1-255, default: 10)
bot_depth = 10

Command Line Override​

You can also set the bot depth directly from the command line, which will override the configuration file value for that session:

chess-tui --depth 15
# or
chess-tui -d 15

This is useful for:

  • Testing different depth values without editing the config file
  • Setting a custom depth for a specific game session
  • Overriding the default depth temporarily

Bot Depth​

The bot_depth parameter controls how deeply the chess engine analyzes positions:

  • Lower values (1-5): Faster moves, weaker play
  • Medium values (6-15): Balanced speed and strength (recommended for most users)
  • Higher values (16+): Stronger play, but slower moves

Default Value​

The default bot depth is 10, which provides a good balance between playing strength and response time.

Performance Impact​

  • Depth 1-5: Moves are calculated almost instantly
  • Depth 6-10: Moves typically take 1-5 seconds
  • Depth 11-15: Moves may take 5-30 seconds
  • Depth 16+: Moves can take several minutes or more
tip

For casual play, a depth of 8-12 is usually sufficient. For serious analysis or when you have time to wait, you can increase the depth to 15-20.

warning

Very high depth values (20+) can cause the engine to think for a very long time, especially in complex positions. Use these values only when you have plenty of time and want maximum playing strength.

The bot also requires a chess engine to be configured. See Chess Engine Configuration for details on setting up your UCI-compatible chess engine.